Will my therapist keep my information confidential?

Absolutely! The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requires healthcare professionals to keep your information confidential and will only disclose it with your permission. Your therapist or counselor should give you a privacy policy statement during your first session. If not, make sure to ask for it.

There’s only one exception to confidentiality with your therapist. Your therapist is a mandated reporter, which means that, depending on your state’s laws, they will be obligated to report to the authorities whether you’re a danger to yourself or to others — such as if you are planning suicide, homicide, child abuse, or domestic abuse.