are details told to a psychiatrist fully confidential?

Question

once something I told a psychiatrist got back to my family and I am worried that anything I say is session now will be brought back to my family

Answer 1

Hi,

Confidentiality policies are in use in most health organisations servicing people with mental health problems. A copy of the confidentiality policy should be available to you if you request this.

Before disclosing any information about yourself, the doctor or another professional, must ask for your consent. You may want a member of your family or a friend to know some information that the doctor has told you.

There are some exceptional circumstances when a doctor can disclose information without your consent, even if you have mental capacity. These circumstances are where the health and safety of yourself or others could be at risk.

I would not worry too much and hope the above information puts your mind at ease.

Good luck throughout your sessions.

Answer 2

First of all, if you haven't already, I'd switch psychiatrists. Nothing you tell them in their office, or in session anywhere, can be told to anyone without your expressed consent. He or she broke the terms of their licensing agreement if they told your family what was said, and I wouldn't trust them with any more information. I might even report them to the licensing board. If you don't have a completely trusting relationship with your psychiatrist, what good are they going to do you?

If they, however, suspect you of being homicidal or suicidal, they are allowed to breach that confidentiality without your permission.

Answer 3

HI,

What you talk about with a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor etc. is strictly confidential. What is said there stays there.....UNLESS they feel you are a danger to someone else or yourself . Another words if they feel you are suicidal and have a plan or plan on hurting someone else .
then they have to report that or let parents know if you are underage.
If they talk about anything else you have told them then they are being Un ethical and can be reproted and can lose their license and or fined .

Hope that helps

Bongo :)

hope this helps

Answer 4

My son goes for counseling and that counselor told us that because he is 16 yo he cannot divulge what is said. If you are under 16, your doctor might be able to divulge info. You should come right out and ask if what you say is confidential. If you can't be sure with this doctor, then don't tell him anything that you wouldn't want your family to know. Which would probably make future visits possibly not worth going to if you can't be honest about what you want to talk about.

Answer 5

Yes, except if the court gives an order to open them in a court room. Then they have to either, let them have a copy of your files, or try to fight it out in court. That is the only time that your can do. Put usually they are very confidential. They had to sign a paper on that.

Answer 6

Yes it is completely confidential. They would only be able to disclose details of what you tell them if you present a danger to yourself or to others.

Disclosure beyond that breaches medical ethics and they can get struck off the doctors register for it.

Answer 7

It's all in the strictest confidence. I'm a Psychiatric nurse, and my patients tell me anything and everything.

The minute they leave my office, or I leave their home/bedside, their words stay in my mind, and nobody else is told about it unless the patient wants further help from another organisation (Rape Crisis Centre, Drug Rehabilitation Centre,etc.)

All notes/documents are kept by me, then put into in locked cabinets

Answer 8

Not if it involves your doing harm to yourself or others... If you're in family therapy, with some individual sessions, there will be "information overlap" unless you specify that there is to be no sharing of ANY information. That can really cut into the benefits though.....

Answer 9

unless you tell the shrink about a crime you committed and then only if you name names datres and places. Keep it all general and it's cofidential unless court ordered to release them and even then the shrink can say no but will face jail for not obeying a court order. This is true even of preachers, preists etc.

Answer 10

Yes it should be conpletely confidential, if anything gets back to your family your psychiatrist has breeched his/her terms of confidentiality and you can get them struck off!