Confidentiality
One of your most important rights as a therapy client is confidentiality. Within certain limits, information revealed by you during therapy sessions will be kept strictly confidential. It will not be revealed to anyone without your written consent.
You should also know that there are certain times when, your psychologist is required by Texas law to reveal information obtained during therapy without your consent. Also, your therapist is not required to inform you of these actions. Ususally, he or she will most likely discuss with you such potential disclosures before they are made. The times when your therapist must reveal information are as follows:
- If you threaten serious injury or death to another person, your therapist is required by law to tell the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
- If you indicate a serious intention to harm yourself, your therapist must take steps to prevent this.
- If a court order is issued, your therapist is required by law to provide the information specifically described by the court (unless an appeal is filed).
- If there is reasonable cause to believe that a child or “at risk adult” may be abused or neglected, your therapist is required by law to report this to the child or adult protective authority. “Abuse or neglect” means an act or failure to act which seriously threatens the health or welfare of the child or “at risk adult”.
Please feel free to discuss confidentiality with your therapist during your initial appointment or at any point thereafter.