Can the psychologist tell others what you explain?

One of the most suspicious aspects of psychotherapy is the issue of confidentiality. Can the psychologist explain to a third person what the patient or client tells him?

As we will see, except in one exceptional case, the answer is a resounding "no". And no, this is not a simple moral standard that psychologists tend to follow because they all think alike. As we will see, behind the profession there is a mandatory code of ethics for a series of very important reasons.

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Is what is told to the psychologist confidential?

Over the course of a series of psychotherapy sessions, it is inevitable that sensitive topics will be discussed: traumatic experiences, family conflicts, feelings that are misunderstood or that are socially wrong seen, etc. It is something that is part of the reason why therapy has a reason to be; Even disorders with more limited effects, such as certain specific phobias, give rise to

moments that we would not explain to anyone and that we are interested in not coming to light.

The same happens if the problems to be treated are not disorders themselves; If there is something that makes us feel bad and motivates us to go to a psychologist, that is still confidential information.

And what if what we are looking for is not to treat a personal problem, but to address a new need (such as for example, learn a new skill for which we must train together with a professional who advise)? In these cases it is also very likely that personal issues will be discussed. Given that the cognitive restructuring related to esteem and self-concept, for example, requires delving into the client's most deeply held feelings and beliefs.

Now, these are the reasons why clients and patients are interested in a rigid discipline of confidentiality in relation to what happens in the psychologist's office.

Its existence in itself would justify the professional feeling the moral obligation not to tell anything to the rest of the people, since despite the fact that he is offering a service, he does not stop empathizing in any moment. Now this is not the only reason why psychologists self-impose the obligation to ensure that the information does not leave their consultation. The other half of this obligation is deontological and professional, not individual, but collective.

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The principle of confidentiality in therapy

These sessions exist because they create a therapeutic bond based on trust. Much of the added value of this kind of service consists in having a place where they can express themselves all the reasons for fear, shame and anguish, to work on the basis of that information to solve the situation.

That is why, if the stability of this dynamic of relationship between the professional and patient or client, the work of psychologists would lose the foundation on which based. It would not only imply losing customers, but also a vision of psychology would be extended according to which it makes sense to try to deceive the therapist or hide things from him, showing him only that information that is considered little compromised.

In something like this, a few cases of therapists spreading data would cause very serious damage to the entire profession. Because, the principle of confidentiality is no longer a commitment of the therapist to himself and with the patient with whom he works, but also with the rest of his colleagues who are dedicated to the same thing.

But confidentiality is not limited to what the patient explains in the sessions. Psychotherapists also treat as confidential specific data and documentation related to their clients and patients, everything that is considered sensitive information. People don't even have to know the names of the people they work with to improve their well-being.

On the other hand, respecting the privacy of the information provided by customers is a way of showing that the person offering the service is not being judged. ¿Why would a therapist reveal confidential information, otherwise? Or because the topics discussed seem vain enough to tell them, or because they are funny certain anecdotes, or because he respects the client little enough to give private information to the person asks. In any case, these situations would be symptoms that there is no commitment to one's professional career.

In which cases is confidentiality broken?

The ethical code of psychologists establishes that the priority is the well-being of patients and the people around them. So that, the only situation in which a psychologist should be able to reveal private information to third parties of patients, is if they have strong evidence that either someone will be directly harmed, or someone's life is in danger. That is to say, a context in which what is trying to improve runs a danger that is beyond the scope of the intervention of the therapist.

In the case of suicide risk, the problem to be dealt with may be related to this, so that confidentiality will be broken if it is estimated that there is an immediate and concrete danger.