Can you tell your therapist illegal things?
Anything and everything you say in therapy is protected by law
, and a court order is required to allow the therapist to break that confidentiality. Even then, judges are very reluctant to issue such an order.
Can I talk to my therapist about illegal things?
Not everything you tell me is strictly confidential.
Confidentiality with a therapist isn't absolute. If you talk about illegal activities, child, domestic or elder abuse or neglect, or wanting to harm yourself or others,
the therapist may be obligated by law (in the U.S.) to report you to the police.
What can you not tell a therapist?
- “I feel like I'm talking too much.” …
- “I'm the worst. …
- “I'm sorry for my emotions.” …
- “I always just talk about myself.” …
- “I can't believe I told you that!” …
- “Therapy won't work for me.”
Can you confess a crime to a therapist?
Can you tell your therapist about illegal drug use?
Yes, You Can Really Tell Your Therapist About Your Substance Use
. To answer the question, yes, you can talk to your counselor about using illicit, addictive substances. Unless you are a threat to your own life or the life of another, a licensed substance abuse counselor is sworn to confidentiality.
Is everything you tell your therapist confidential?
You therapist is required to maintain confidentiality about everything said in sessions between the two of you
, just like a doctor is required to keep your records private. While there are laws and regulations in place to protect your privacy, confidentiality is also a key part of psychology's code of ethics.
Do therapists judge you?
Your therapist judges you on multiple occasions
.
It doesn't matter how many mistakes you've made or how many bad experiences you've had. A therapist should never judge you. It's your right to have a therapist who treats you with warmth and empathy.
Can I tell my therapist anything?
What can I tell my therapist? The short answer is that
you can tell your therapist anything
– and they hope that you do. It's a good idea to share as much as possible, because that's the only way they can help you.
Can therapists tell when you are lying?
Your therapist can't read your mind, so
they may not always know for certain when you lie
. That said, plenty of cues in your speech and body language can alert your therapist to dishonesty. They might notice things like unnecessary or embellished details, or changes in your story from session to session.
Can I tell my therapist about intrusive thoughts?
Your Therapist Needs to Know What's Going On to Help You
You may feel that something bad might happen if you tell your therapist your scariest thoughts, however, it is important to realize that having intrusive thoughts does not mean you are a bad person. Everyone has intrusive thoughts.
Can you tell a therapist about past crimes?
Many states have statutes requiring healthcare providers, including mental health professionals, to report any suspected abuse of children, elders, and dependent adults. So,
in most cases, therapists who hear admissions of such abuse from patients not only can report their patients' statements—they must.
How honest can you be with a therapist?
The most critical component of trust is honesty, so consider being upfront about the fact that
you do not trust a therapist 100%
with certain information to be good practice at honesty. From there, you and your therapist can talk about why you aren't yet trusting, and what can be done to build that trust!
What does a therapist do if a patient is suicidal?
If the therapist feels that the situation is too dangerous, the therapist may suggest
short-term hospitalization
to keep the suicidal person safe for the moment. The therapist will treat the suicidal person as a unique individual with unique problems.
Should I tell my psychiatrist about my drug use?
Absolutely
. It's important for your doctor to know all of your medical history, including any prescription or recreational drugs. Some illicit drugs can interact with medications.
Can you tell a therapist if you killed someone?
If a client tells their therapist they committed a crime in the past, whether it is murder, bank robbery, or kidnapping,
we can't violate confidentiality unless there is a person at imminent risk, right now.
Should I tell my therapist I got drunk?
Im taking advantage of the APA Blog Party to share this important message:
If you are in therapy, and you drink or do drugs (whether or not you are also prescribed medication) please let your therapist know
. Heres why: 1) If you use alcohol and drugs they can interact with medication.
What are the 3 exceptions to confidentiality?
Most of the mandatory exceptions to confidentiality are well known and understood. They include
reporting child, elder and dependent adult abuse
, and the so-called “duty to protect.” However, there are other, lesserknown exceptions also required by law.
What are some examples of inappropriate self disclosure?
According to Zur (2010), one of the most cited examples of inappropriate self-disclosures are
when practitioners discuss their own personal problems and hardships with their clients with no clinical rationale or purpose
.
Do therapists report self harm?
Most professionals are obligated to report when a person in therapy, regardless of age, is in imminent danger
. That danger could be significant risk of suicide or conditions of abuse/neglect. Thoughts of suicide alone, however, do not necessarily trigger a mandated report—it depends on the circumstances.
Do therapists cry over their clients?
Research asking patients what they think about their therapists' tears is scant. In a 2015 study in Psychotherapy, researchers Ashley Tritt, MD, Jonathan Kelly, and Glenn Waller, PhD, surveyed 188 patients with eating disorders and found that
about 57 percent had experienced their therapists crying
.
Do therapists want you to cry?
Yes, crying in therapy is not only normal, it's encouraged
! Crying is the body's natural response to sadness, grief, happiness (think tears of joy!), stress and even anger, for some people.
Why does my therapist stare at me?
Therapists also use eye contact
to show they are listening
– although in everyday life, this can feel odd to us, as we don't often have anyone's undivided attention. Therapists call this “active listening.” This is a skill psychologists use to engage with people.
Can you show your therapist screenshots?
It's against the rules for a therapist to talk about any client (under most circumstances), so
they are ethically bound to not divulge anything about you to people in the photos
.
Can you trauma dump on a therapist?
She posted a video explaining that
no one can “trauma dump” on their therapist
because the definition of the term implies offloading emotions inappropriately and without permission. This is the opposite of what therapy is — counselors give permission to clients to share their experiences.
Can I ask my therapist what he thinks of me?
Can I ask My Therapist What He/She Thinks of Me?
Yes, you can, and yes you should
. This is a reasonable question to ask a therapist, and any good therapist will be happy to answer.
What words do liars use?
- “To be honest”
- “To tell you the truth”
- “Believe me”
- “Let me be clear”
- “The fact is”
Can my therapist Ghost me?
So I mentioned before,
therapists can't just ghost you
. It happens, but it's not considered ethical professional behavior. “No matter what the reason for the ‘breakup' the therapist is still responsible for seeing that the client has access to care,” says Aimee Daramus, a Chicago-based clinical psychologist.
What should I not tell my psychiatrist?
Never confess your love
Never tell your therapist that you think they're attractive, or that you'd like to take them out. It's just not okay, and your therapist will be incredibly uncomfortable with the situation. They may even have to stop seeing you if you profess your love for them.
What is an example of intrusive thoughts?
What are the confidentiality laws for therapists?
You have the right not to disclose any confidential communications between you and your psychotherapist in a California criminal jury trial
; and. You have the right to prevent your therapist from disclosing any such confidential communications.
Do therapists have to tell parents about drug use?
Yes, there are mandatory reporting laws for therapists and other medical professionals
. These laws often include teachers and others in close contact with minors.
Are therapist conversations privileged?
Sharing something you think is too sensitive or personal can be uncomfortable. But know you're not alone in thinking you've disclosed too much in therapy. When this happens,
it can help to explore why you think you've overshared and talk it over with your therapist.
Do therapists Google their clients?
Do therapists Google their patients? Short answer: yes. A new study published on January 15 in the Journal of Clinical Psychology finds that
86% of the therapists interviewed by the study's authors say they sometimes do look up their patients on the Internet.
Can you ask your therapist personal questions?
The short answer to the question is:
Yes. If you have a question, you should ask
. Your questions are valid and likely relevant to the therapeutic process.
Do therapists tell your parents what you say?
“
The therapist is not obligated to tell your parents
, but they are mandated by law to report any suspected sexual abuse. Since the law specifically refers to ‘suspected,' it is not up to the therapist to determine whether the abuse actually occurred.
