We seldom lend our trust to total strangers when we first meet them, yet somehow you are supposed to trust your therapist. This prospect of trusting me from the start may seem threatening or scary, and this reaction is perfectly reasonable. After all, how do you know that I am worth your trust? Yet what if the thing you want to talk about is difficult to share with another person out of fear of judgment?

It is this dilemma that underlies the concept of “confidentiality” in psychotherapy. Generally speaking, “confidentiality” means that what we discuss during our work together is never shared with another person without your permission or unless there are extraordinary circumstances. This is a very important principle that psychologists follow. In our work together, the less worry you have about what I will do with your information, the more you can focus on addressing your individual needs.

During our first meeting together I will go over confidentiality in greater detail and answer any questions you may have.