confidentiality

[PinotGrigio]

hi

i was wondering if anyone could help me with a question I have. i have never seen a counsellor and the last few days have left me feeling I have no option left BUT to see one...

what worries me - does what you talk about and so on go onto your medical records? i don't want my history on there and its bad enough telling someone about it all without my docs and so on knowing...

sorry for the silly question!
x

[Jenny]

Hi there and welcome to the forum :)

It's not a silly question and I'm glad that you felt able to ask here. Are you in the UK? If you are then I guess it would depend largely on whether you opt to see a counsellor through the NHS (free but would be a waiting list). As far as i understand an NHS counsellor would need to write back to your GP to inform them that you are receiving treatment. They wouldn't necessarily write everything down, i.e. not all details, but at least that you're in treatment with them. Maybe this is something you could discuss with them? In fact i think the only way to get see an NHS counsellor is through a referral from by your GP so there would be something written on your medical records with regards to you being in counselling.

An alternative would be to seek counselling from a private counsellor, but for this you may need to pay. I'm not sure of your age or circumstances etc but there are organisations around that offer free (e.g. youth counselling services) or low cost therapy.. and as far as i know they don't normally contact your GP unless there's a risk of harm to yourself or others (they would go through this with you in your first appointment with them). I say 'normally' because i think there are some private counsellors who would still ask permission to write to your GP just to let them know you're in therapy, but again this would be talked through with you and your consent would need to be given.

I don't know if that helps and i myself am not a counsellor or anything so maybe someone else can add any extra information or correct me on things if i'm wrong. One thing i am wondering though is what is your fear around your being in counselling being on your medical recoards?

I'm sorry too to hear that things have been really difficult for you these past few days and i'm glad that you're trying to think of ways that could help you during this difficult time. I'm really glad that you found this forum and hope you'll keep writing here if it helps - we don't offer counselling here but we are able to listen and support in any way we can. Take good care of yourself and good luck with any decision you make.. xx

Edit - i found this thread (http://www.hopeatsunrise.co.uk/showthread.php?t=215) which has a link to the BACP website which could be useful with regards to private therapy

[Daisychain]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

I'm not sure what country you are in but here in Ireland its 100% confidential if you are over 18. Under 18-you need your parents consent.

I can totally understand your worries about this. Confidentiality is possibly the most important factor in counselling. What goes on in the therapy room stays in the room.

At my first session my counsellor explained to me that everything is confidential unless I threaten to harm myself or harm someone else (in that case,she would have to inform my doctor).

Im sorry you've been feeling so low lately, you can private message me if you need someone to talk to :) :arms:

[PinotGrigio]

Hi Jenny

Thanks for your input. I am in the UK, am 30 yrs old.... I can pay for private appointments etc..especially if that would speed the whole process up. Things are really a bit desperate at the moment - so the sooner it is sorted the better!

My fear around it all being in my medical records is for several reasons. I have some pretty big health problems going on alongside the rest of the issues (which are the things that I need to see the counsellor for rather than the health issues!). I don't want to add anymore to my medical notes or make them think that I am not dealing with the medical problems. Also - some of what I need to speak about is so intensely private and painful I couldn't bear it if anyone else knew. Its all just come out in the wash having just told someone close to me about it all - for the first time ever, which was a major deal. I don't want it plastered all over records about me!

I know I sound strange (!) but somehow I have to find a way forward to get through this and the confidentiality issues were a major concern.

Thanks again for your help :)

xx

[Jenny]

You don't sound strange at all :) I had the same fears with regards to medical records.. i personally didn't want my GP to write that i was in therapy due to my own personal stigma about counselling, but a few years ago i decided 'what the heck' and just went for it. I guess it would depend on what counselling you got via the NHS, e.g. if it was a counsellor within the GP surgery or whether you'd be referred elsewhere, but i guess either way there'd be quite a waiting list.

I agree that seeing and paying privately would probably be a quicker route, although i do hear the sense of urgency that you want to get this 'sorted' asap. I realise you probably know but counselling wouldn't 'cure' you overnight but rather it'd be a journey.. it may take time.. but at least you'd have that support sooner rather than later. Also, often with the NHS the input available is limited, e.g. 6 sessions or something.. whereas privately you can go for as long as it's helpful and you can afford it!

There are a few links on this forum which may help in finding a counsellor, e.g. the BACP website. If you need any tips or anything post here and i'm sure someone will help you out :)

I'm sorry that things are tough right now and that you're feeling wobbly after telling someone for the first time about your experiences. I think this is understandable and i hope you'll find a way to get much needed support around you to help you through.. please feel free to keep writing here if it helps too.

Thinking of you
Jenny x

[shrinknightmare]

Quite interesting how it works in different countrys. In my country my shrink doesn't even know the name of my GP. I rarely see the GP anyway.

[andyhp]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

I'm not sure what country you are in but here in Ireland its 100% confidential if you are over 18.



Just checking...100% confidential? No breaking confidentiality at all or do you mean only passing info between counsellors and GP's?

[Steve]

Your counsellor should explain their policy on confidentiality during the initial stages of the first session. This is part of the 'counselling contract' and includes reasons why they might break the agreement. You can see the confidentiality contract I use, including the break clauses, on my website under 'counselling services'. Hope this proves useful to anyone concerned about confidentiality.

[shrinknightmare]

i have never had a counsellor talk about confidentialitty, I found out the hard way.\ Steve had a look at your website and saw this

Termination

I reserve the right to terminate counselling immediately should you commit, or threaten to commit, any physical harm to yourself or to me, or if you cause any damage to the Clinic.

So if someone admits to making a suicide attempt do you then say bye bye? Just curious as have not heard of this before.

[Steve]

Hi Shrinknightmare. That’s a very good question. The “I reserve the right” is a legal/ethical consideration should a client decide to self harm or attempt suicide within the actual session.

In terms of previous suicide attempts no I wouldn’t end the session. It’s important to discuss the attempt(s) and the emotions behind it (them) in detail so that both parties can fully understand what brought the client to that place (were they so desperately unhappy that they wanted to escape from their situation, or did they genuinely want to end their lives), before making any decisions about referral or the suitability of counselling - in consultation with the client.

[shrinknightmare]

oh I didn;t know that you were referring to during the actual session. I thought it meant in between visits.