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Confidentiality is a respected part of psychology's code of ethics. Psychotherapists understand that for people to feel comfortable discussing private information, they need a safe and supportive space to talk, without fear of that information being passed along to anyone else. Mental health providers take your privacy very seriously.

Laws are also in place to protect your privacy. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) contains a privacy rule that creates national standards to protect individuals' medical records and personal health information, including information about psychotherapy and mental health.

You can contact the Arizona’s Board of Behavioral Heath to find more about laws and protections of confidentiality.

At your first visit, the psychotherapist will provide you written information explaining privacy policies and how your personal information will be handled. This information will explain that in some cases, there are exceptions to the privacy rule.

In some specific situations, information can share information without the client's written consent. Common exceptions are:

• Psychotherapists may disclose private information without consent in order to protect the patient or the public from serious harm — if, for example, a client discusses plans to attempt suicide or harm another person.
• Psychotherapists are required to report ongoing domestic violence, abuse or neglect of children, the elderly or people with disabilities. (However, if an adult discloses that he or she was abused as a child, the therapist typically isn't bound to report that abuse, unless there are other children continuing to be abused.)
• Psychotherapists may release information if they receive a court order. That might happen if a person's mental health came into question during legal proceedings.

Psychologists will share certain information about your diagnosis and treatment with the health insurance company or government program (like Medicare or Medicaid) that is paying for your treatment so that the company or program can determine what care is covered. The health insurance company or program is also bound by HIPAA to keep that information confidential. However, if you choose to pay out of pocket for services, and you choose to not ask your insurance provider for reimbursement, your insurance may not be aware that you are seeing a mental health care provider.

Similarly, your psychotherapist may ask for your consent to share information, or discuss your care, with your other health care professionals to coordinate your care.

Different states have different ages at which young people can seek mental health services without informing parents. In most cases, a parent is involved when a minor receives psychotherapy services.

Mental health care providers want young people to feel comfortable sharing their feelings, and are careful to respect their privacy. Often, at the first psychotherapy visit, the child, parent and psychologist will sit down together to discuss ground rules for privacy. That way both parents and children know exactly what types of information the provider might share with parents, and what he or she will keep private. For example, it is common for parents to agree to be informed only if their minor child is engaged in risky activities.

Privacy is your right as a patient or client. If you choose to tell your friends or family that you're seeing a therapist, you are free to do so. How much information you decide to share is up to you. Psychotherapists are ethically bound to protect your privacy regardless of what information you choose to share with others.

Sometimes, psychotherapists find it helpful to discuss your concerns or behaviors with other people in your life. A therapist may want to interview your spouse to better understand what's going on in your home, for example. If a child is having trouble at school, the therapist may want to interview the child's teachers. But whether you involve others is completely up to you. Psychotherapists generally can't contact anyone else without your written consent.

If you have specific concerns about confidentiality or what information a psychotherapist is legally required to disclose, discuss it with the therapist. He or she will be happy to help you understand your rights.