As you spend more time discussing goals and challenges with your Talkspace therapist, you may have questions or are interested in learning more about specific mental health topics and conditions. The Talkspace Bookshelf offers up-to-date mental health information directly from our behavioral health team to provide a better understanding of condition origins, diagnoses, various forms a condition may take, and different treatment options. Feel free to use this resource as a starting point to open up a dialogue and pose questions for your Talkspace therapist.

Therapy is an incredibly unique space. It is, for many people, the only place in which they can come close to divulging all or most of their thoughts, feelings, and challenges. Therapy can be an intimidating and challenging process.

Most of us are not used to sharing the majority of our actual thoughts and feelings with those around us. For many, withholding is an effort to maintain relationships in our lives. When we get upset, hurt, or feel anxious (or a variety of other emotions) many of us take it upon ourselves to hold in those feelings and deal with them internally. Many people think, and have been led to believe, that this is the better option — to not place all of our feelings on someone else.

This is, in part, true.

However, therapy is quite different. Due to the nature of the unique relationship between therapist and client, you do not have to be concerned about what and how you share in therapy. Your therapist will operate from an objective and nonjudgmental stance. They are there to validate and help you make sense of how you are feeling and to help you focus focus on your goals and desired outcomes. They are not there to judge, ridicule, or minimize your thoughts and feelings. They are there to help you move forward. Your therapist will be prepared to do what they can to witness your disclosures and work with you on steps to heal or resolve any issues or concerns that you bring to the table. For many, this is a new and refreshingtype of relationship.

As most of us do not encounter this kind of objectivity in our lives, it may be difficult to adjust to the therapeutic relationship in which you are open — and actually invited — to explore your honest and deepest thoughts and feelings. This can be a scary process and is even perceived by some as threatening. It’s important that you take your time and allow for the foundation of the relationship to develop. Of course, like any relationship, it takes time to build trust. However, your therapist will challenge and support you, exploring as much as they can to learn more about you. This will enable your therapist to discern the best ways to help you, as an individual, meet your goals in therapy.

Ethics and Confidentiality

Many clients are concerned about what they share in therapy being private or confidential. Therapists are bound by legal regulations regarding confidentiality. This is because therapists are considered medical providers. This means that the information that you share in therapy is considered private health information. There are, however, some small exceptions to this rule.

Therapists often use a form (and a process) called Informed Consent. This will be one of the forms you read and agree to when you start therapy, but it is a process that continues throughout the therapy. In this initial document, you will find language about your right to privacy and the limits of confidentiality. To summarize, these limits often refer to the threat of imminent harm or danger to one’s self or others, or the abuse or mistreatment of children or elders. Therapists are required, by law, to disclose any threats to safety in those instances. Therefore, there may be situations such as these in which your confidentiality will be compromised. The purpose is to ensure that you are receiving the resources and level of care you need, in addition to safeguarding the needs of others.

As a counterpoint, all licensed therapists are also bound by professional ethics. Whether your therapist holds the title of professional counselor, clinical social worker, psychologist, or some other title, they are bound by the ethics of their respective fields of study. In those codes of ethics there are guidelines that advocate for the privacy and confidentiality of the therapeutic process. If you have questions about these ethics or legal considerations, please speak to your therapist openly to avoid any confusion or miscommunication.

Feeling of Regret

Many times in therapy, just like in your life outside of therapy, you may get the feeling that you’ve said too much. You may feel the desire to “take back” something that you’ve said during your conversations with your therapist. This is a normal feeling. This is often a part of being vulnerable and open with another human being. Many clients experience this kind of regret in therapy. If this happens to you, it would actually be helpful if you talked about it with your therapist. This feeling may help you work through some of the concerns that take place outside of therapy as well. It may lead you and your therapist to some other helpful breakthroughs in your journey.

Therapist Disclosure

One thing that is unique about the therapy relationship is that it is largely one-sided. Chances are you won’t know a lot about your therapist’s life outside of the conversations you have with them. In large part, this helps your therapist maintain greater objectivity, which will help them provide a better service to you.

As such, your therapist won’t talk much about themselves. If they share personal tidbits or brief stories with you, they are done with the intention of helping you move forward in your therapeutic process. This can be frustrating as there will be times when you want to know what your therapist might do if in your shoes. You may want to know their opinion outside of just being your “therapist.” If it’s helpful to you, your therapist may share that. In many instances, however, your therapist will bring the conversation’s focus back to you so that you both can continue to focus on your concerns and goals. This isn’t in an attempt to hide from you, but is an ethical consideration for therapists to provide the best service possible.

By and large, therapy is a process that invites and encourages you to share as much as possible. The conversations with your therapist are bound by professional ethics and legal confidentiality. Except for instances in which harm to yourself or others may be imminent, you can be sure that what you share with your therapist is considered private information. Even if a therapist consults with another professional about your process, they will omit any unnecessary or identifying information as to not breach their professional duty for confidentiality.

Push yourself outside of your comfort zone and allow therapy to be the place where you can be more fully present and open. In the end, this will lead you to more personal discovery and better outcomes down the line.

Questions for My Therapist:

• Are there certain topics that are “off-limits” or that I shouldn’t talk about in therapy?
• Will you share any of the details of our conversations in therapy with anyone else?
• What happens if I share thoughts about self-harm or suicide? How would that be handled?
• What happens if I just need direct advice on what to do next?
• Why don’t therapist talk more about themselves? Why is that a problem?

Therapeutic Note

Remember your therapist is here to help you figure out the best way to address your concerns. Therapy works best when it is a collaboration between you and your therapist. It is important to be open, honest, and an active participant in this process. Talk to your therapist about your goals for therapy so that together you can come up with the best plan to achieve your goals.

Sources

Grohol, J. (2009). When You Disclose Too Much in Therapy. Psych Central. Retrieved on August 16, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/04/28/when-you-disclose-too-much-in-therapy/

Seltzer, L. F. (2014, March 13). Between Therapist and Client: The Great Divide. Retrieved August 16, 2017, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolution-the-self/201403/between-therapist-and-client-the-great-divide