Although I do not see clients with severe mental health problems and the problems that I help people with are quite common, many people are concerned that their employer or peers will find out that they are seeing a psychologist and that it will somehow negatively effect them or their reputation. Some of my clients are very high-profile in this community and one of the reasons that they feel comfortable seeing me is that I am extremely careful about protecting their confidentiality.
Your privacy is one of my top priorities. My office is in a very low-traffic setting with parking in the rear. I have a separate waiting room with two doors so that no one sees anyone else coming or going from my office. For this reason, I ask that you close the door to my waiting room upon entering. If someone else calls me and asks if I am seeing you, I will say “I cannot discuss who I do or do not see.”
The ethical rules and laws governing my profession strictly prohibit me or any other psychologist from sharing your information with anyone without your permission, with the following exceptions:
- Child or elder abuse
- If you are intending to seriously harm yourself or another person
- Court orders coming directly from a judge
