Group versus Individual Therapy
Group versus Individual Therapy
Colleagues #: 2
Group versus Individual Therapy
The legal and ethical considerations surrounding group and family therapy are somewhat different than with individual treatment. When a client enters therapy, they expect a certain level of privacy. The foundation of effective treatment is the understanding that what is discussed in therapy will remain private (McClanahan, 2014). The client participating in individual therapy will have a greater feeling of this privacy, unlike the client in a group setting where several people that are not professional therapists will hear what is being said. Confidentiality must be maintained in a group setting. This can be accomplished by having the participants sign an agreement to keep all things discussed private. Group members must understand that anything discussed between two or more members must be kept secret from anyone that is not a part of the group (Breeskin, 2011). It should be made clear that when participating in group therapy that no one is required to do or say anything, they do not wish to (Breeskin, 2011). Group and family therapy can be a powerful tool for the clients involved as long as the participants feel at ease to discuss the issues for which they sought out therapy in the first place. It seems that group therapy could create a lot of anxiety for some clients due to the possibility of exposure and feelings of lack of confidentiality, and some would seek individual counseling instead. Individual counseling is not a guarantee that the private counseling sessions would never be exposed, however.
There are certain instances when what is discussed in an individual session could be shared with others. These situations include authorization, in which the client authorizes information to be released (Sommers, Feldman, & Knowlton, 2008). Information could be mandated to be revealed, which is when it is necessary to warn or report potential harm to others, or when the court orders/subpoenas the release of information (Sommers, Feldman, & Knowlton, 2008). Permission is the last and most significant way that information could be released from private sessions as it includes consent that is granted federally under HIPAA guidelines, including information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations (Sommers, Feldman, & Knowlton, 2008). The state you are in can also grant permission to release information to prisons, police, fire departments when the person is not conscious or in the case of death information can be given to the coroner if there is an investigation (Sommers, Feldman, & Knowlton, 2008). Of course, there are certain exceptions to every rule, and it is beneficial to know the exact rules for the state in which you practice. One thing is certain that there are no absolutes when it comes to privacy.
