Confidentiality:
What you discuss during your therapy session is kept confidential. No contents of the therapy sessions, whether verbal or written, may be shared with another party without your written consent or the written consent of your legal guardian. The following is a list of exceptions:
• Duty to Warn/Protect: If you disclose a plan or threat to harm yourself, the therapist must attempt to notify your family and notify legal authorities. In addition, if you disclose a plan to threaten or harm another person, the therapist is required to warn the potential victim and notify legal authorities.
• Abuse of Children and Vulnerable Adults: If you disclose, or it is suspected, that there is abuse or harmful neglect of children or vulnerable adults (i.e. the elderly, disabled/incompetent), the therapist must report this information to the appropriate state agency and/or legal authorities.
• Prenatal Exposure to Controlled Substances: Therapists must report any observed or admitted prenatal exposure to controlled substances that could be harmful to the mother or the child. If it appears to me that a parent is intoxicated/under the influence additional resources will also need to be accessed.
• Minors: Guardianship parents or legal guardians of non-emancipated minor clients have the right to access the clients’ records.
• Insurance Providers: Insurance companies and other third-party payers are given information that they request regarding services to the clients. The type of information that may be requested includes: type of service, dates/times of service, diagnosis, treatment plan, description of impairment, progress of therapy, case notes, summaries, etc.
Ethical Guidelines:
I follow the ethical guidelines set forth by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Counseling Association, and the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists.