Wendy Blenning, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

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:: About confidentiality

Oregon law and professional ethics codes require psychotherapists to strictly maintain the confidentiality of all that is discussed in counseling. This means that I am not allowed to share with anyone the fact that you are my client or any of the details of our therapy sessions unless you sign a consent form, which gives me your permission to do so. Absolutely no information about you or your family will be released to you or any third party without your written consent, or that of your representative appointed in accordance with state law.

There are several exceptions to this general rule, which protects your confidentiality in therapy:

If you say anything to me which indicates that a child, an elder, or any adult unable to care for or protect him/herself is being abused
If you become a danger to yourself (suicidal)
If you become a danger to another person (homicidal) or to the property of someone else
If you become gravely disabled (unable to care for your own health and safety)
If you initiate a claim or lawsuit which brings your emotional or mental condition into issue (for example, a Worker's Compensation stress claim or a harassment lawsuit against an employer)
There are several other specific limitations to confidentiality, which relate to certain court proceedings and other unusual situations. If you would like to know exactly what these are, please ask me, consult an attorney, or contact the Oregon State Board of Clinical Social Workers.

When more than one client is participating in counseling sessions (as in couples or family therapy), decisions about each individual's right to confidentiality can become complicated. If one participant would like to divulge something to me that s/he wishes to be kept confidential from other therapy participant(s), my policy is to reserve the right to use my own reasonable professional judgment as to whether or not to agree to do this. While every client is entitled to confidentiality, at the same time it is unethical for a therapist to agree to something which she believes would undermine the treatment goals or not be in the best interests of any other therapy participant(s).