In the case where there is an identified client in individual therapy, when visitors (such as parents, spouses, other family members, etc.) choose to attend the client’s sessions with the therapist, they do so with the understanding that they are not the clients. All consultations or sessions with the therapist will be focused on supporting and assisting the client’s progress towards their individual therapeutic goals.
While disclosures made by the client to the therapist would require his/her express permission to be released, visitors to treatment should not expect the same level of protection under confidentiality. This means that anything shared with the therapist by anyone other than the client can be shared with others (even in the absence of a judge’s order), if the therapist determines that this would be in the client’s best interest. An example of this is in the case of minor clients, when the therapist decides that something disclosed by one divorced parent should be shared with the other parent in order to provide the most help to the client.
It is important to note that while the therapist does not have a legal obligation to protect visitors’ privacy, the therapist will not take disclosing anyone’s personal information and disclosures with others lightly, and is fully committed to providing a space where all visitors can feel safe to share.
*This statement does not apply in cases where family therapy has been identified as the primary method of treatment, and all family members have been asked to provide written consent. In these cases, all family members participating in therapy are considered clients, and are entitled to confidentiality within the therapeutic relationship.
I have read the Agreement Between the Therapist and Visitors to Treatment. I am signing to indicate that I understand and agree to these terms.