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.
NB: Confidentiality will be broken if there is a perceived significant risk to life or harm to others or under court subpoena. Psychologists safeguard the confidentiality of information obtained during their provision of psychological services.
Knowing that you can say anything to your therapist and it will remain in the room helps you feel safe and builds trust between you and the therapist. For this reason, all therapists are legally and ethically bound to keep their sessions confidential and not share with anyone else what was talked about.
Psychologists help patients handle stressful events, beat addictions, or manage illnesses. People may seek counseling or treatments from psychologists for things such as traumatic experiences, a death in the family, or long-term anxiety.
Therapists keep a close eye on you because: It helps them take in not just the content of what you're saying, but how you're saying it, your body language, and other subtle cues.
Therapists take confidentiality seriously. They understand that clients need a safe place to disclose their most private thoughts and feelings. In almost all cases, your personal information is held in strict confidence. Only in extreme cases will your therapist need to break confidentiality to keep you or others safe.
Hands. Your client's hands can give you clues about how they're reacting to what comes up in the session. Trembling fingers can indicate anxiety or fear. Fists that clench or clutch the edges of clothing or furniture can suggest anger.
Situations in which confidentiality will need to be broken:
There is disclosure or evidence of physical, sexual or serious emotional abuse or neglect. Suicide is threatened or attempted. There is disclosure or evidence of serious self-harm (including drug or alcohol misuse that may be life-threatening).
The 'limits of confidentiality', it is argued, are set by the wishes of the client or, where these are not known, by reference to those whose right and need to know relate to the care of the client.
Limits of Confidentiality
There are reasonable grounds to believe that you are likely to harm yourself or another person. There are reasonable grounds to believe that a child under the age of 17 years is at risk of being abused or neglected.
Breaking confidentiality is done when it is in the best interest of the patient or public, required by law or if the patient gives their consent to the disclosure. Patient consent to disclosure of personal information is not necessary when there is a requirement by law or if it is in the public interest.
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.
Unlike other medical records, therapy notes are subject to special protections, which means you can request them, but that doesn't mean your therapist has any obligation to let you see them.
Back to Fictional Reader's question about why it may be difficult to look a therapist in the eyes. Some possible root causes range from guilt, shame, anxiety, low self-esteem, shyness, past abuse, depression or autistic spectrum disorders to varying cultural norms and cognitive overload.
None of the ethics boards that regulate mental health professionals specifically prohibit the use of touch or view it as unethical. There are times when your therapist may believe that it's more harmful to you not to initiate a hug. In some cases, nonsexual, therapeutic touch may be beneficial.
Googling a therapist can raise feelings of guilt for some clients, and I think that it is useful in therapy to discuss the relationship as openly as you feel able. I would suggest that having a conversation with your therapist around your internet search could be a great opportunity for good work in therapy.
After you realize that transference is very common and not shameful, talk about your feelings with your therapist. Professing your love (or whatever emotion you're feeling) may be easier said than done, but it can help your therapist understand your issues and help you get the most out of your therapy.
Your therapist will ask a lot of really personal questions in the beginning. Answer them as honestly as you can, but keep in mind you don't have to share any more details than you feel ready to share. It's perfectly legitimate to tell your therapist, “I'm not comfortable talking about that yet.”
The Benefits of Therapist Silence in Session
Therapist silence can help the client stay in charge of the session. When we don't jump in with an agenda, the client will often take more responsibility for setting the goal of the session and for deciding what is most important.
Because a therapy session is totally and completely about you, it isn't quite a two-way conversation. A therapist or psychiatrist is actually trained to listen. They are not only listening to what you are saying, they are listening for what you are not saying.