In therapy, trust between the client and mental health professional is everything. A strong rapport is vital to the overall therapeutic process.
But, what happens behind closed doors during a session, doesn’t mean it will stay there. There may be a time where a therapist must decide, “Should I break our client confidentiality agreement?”
What is Client Confidentiality, Really?
For clients, therapy offers the ideal environment to explore and freely express. For therapists, therapy is a catalyst for helping clients heal and resolve.
And for the working relationship to be productive, privacy and boundaries is a must. To ensure you follow the proper protocol, it’s best to adhere to state, federal, and association rules and regulations.
When Does a Therapist Have to Break Confidentiality?
As a mental health professional, you must respect patients and keep communications confidential when possible.
Here’s the general rule of thumb:
- If the client may be an immediate danger to himself or others
- If the client is endangering a population that cannot protect itself, such as the case of a child or elder abuse
- To share diagnosis information as necessary to obtain payment for services
- As required by federal or state laws, or court-mandated
Setting Expectations with Your Client During Therapy
Before services are rendered, set expectations. Client confidentiality starts with the onboarding process.
During client intake, be sure to share your office policy that informs and explains the confidentiality agreement in detail.
Be sure to address all exceptions to confidentiality with your clients and ensure their understanding of these exceptions and your obligations in each of these circumstances through the ongoing informed consent process.
What Role Does Insurance Play in Confidentiality as a Therapist?
If you take insurance, ask for the client’s permission to share relevant information with the insurer. According to HIPAA, therapists should not reveal any more information than is necessary to ensure coverage.
This shared information is typically limited to diagnosis and session dates but may include generalized information regarding treatment goals.
If a client refuses to give permission to bill insurance the therapist will have to work out a private pay solution with the client. But it can be difficult to know what to charge and negotiating this rate is challenging and may be embarrassing for the therapist to quote. Most clients who have insurance want to use their insurance benefits insurance.
Regardless, before services are rendered, be sure to know how you’re getting fairly paid upfront.
Bill for Therapy Services with Confidence
Clients perceive using their insurance benefits as a right. Their financial resources go into paying premiums. Billing insurance and can be complex. This is why many mental health practices outsource their billing needs to mental health billing professionals. Anchor Point Billing Solutions specializes in mental health billing. Let us help you reduce your billing headaches and improve your profits.
Get in touch with us to learn more.