A Word about Confidentiality…
Some people choose therapy when they need to be sure that no one else knows about the issue that is weighing on their mind, or on their heart. They may feel the need to speak with someone who doesn’t know anyone that they know, who will not share any of their private information with anyone. Looking for privacy, you should know that there are laws protecting you, and prohibiting the sharing of anything you want to discuss with a mental health professional. There are two primary exceptions to your complete confidentiality, when you work with Sarah. First of all, your safety. If you speak of harming yourself or anyone else, Sarah will discuss this with you, and will do whatever she can to protect you from harming either yourself, or anyone else. She will not do this in secret. She will discuss her concerns with you, will encourage you to do what you need to, to protect yourself, and she will only take action if she feels you won’t protect yourself.
The other exception to your complete confidentiality with Sarah comes if you ask Sarah to share information with another medical professional or with a health insurance company. When people use health insurance, with any medical provider, there will be some information shared. Specifically, the fact that you came, the dates and times, and a diagnosis. On rare occasions, health insurance companies request further information. If this happens for you, Sarah will tell you, before she shares any additional information with health insurance companies. While health insurance companies are held to the same standards of confidentiality that medical professionals are held to, once information about you leaves Sarah’s office, she has no power over what happens to it.