Confidentiality is defined as “the state of keeping or being kept secret or private” and is the foundation of psychotherapy as it helps to create trust in the client-therapist relationship.  This means that whatever a client shares in therapy stays between client and therapist and that the therapist, absent exigent circumstances, cannot share it with anyone.  So important is confidentiality to the therapeutic process that it is afforded legal protection by state and federal law and can only be breached in extremely limited circumstances, specified by law, such as when a therapist has a reasonable belief that a client is a danger to self or others.  Even in these circumstances the therapist must weigh heavily toward maintaining client privacy unless there are no other options available.  The importance of the legal protection afforded the client cannot be underestimated and there are less than a handful of professional relationships afforded as much protection.

As your therapist, and as one who has taught the law and ethics of psychotherapy, Joel holds confidentiality to be paramount.  He makes a point of discussing confidentiality throughout the therapy process. In circumstances where confidentiality is more complex (e.g., working with children, couples and families), Joel discusses various options and works with clients to help them make decisions as to how they wish confidentiality to be handled.

Joel will discuss confidentiality with you at the outset of therapy, but please discuss with him any questions or concerns you have regarding confidentiality so that you will feel more secure and at ease as therapy progresses.