group therapy information protection

Avoiding Liability Bulletin – December 2005

… With respect to the psychotherapist-patient privilege or similarly named privileges, the general rule is that the patient is the “holder” of the privilege. Since group therapy involves more than one patient, a question arises as to whether or not the communications and information about one of the group participants will be privileged if later subpoenaed in a lawsuit involving that particular group participant. The question arises because state laws usually provide that if the patient voluntarily shares otherwise confidential information with a third party (typically, someone other than the therapist), the privilege is waived. State laws dealing with privilege should contain, and many do, an exception to that general rule so that the privilege of all group therapy participants is preserved.

As an example, one state’s law provides, in part, that a confidential communication between patient and psychotherapist means information transmitted between a patient and his/her psychotherapist in the course of that relationship and in confidence by a means which, so far as the patient is aware, discloses the information to no third persons other than those who are present to further the interest of the patient in the consultation. Each participant in group therapy would arguably be present to further their own interest and the interest of the other group participants as well. Thus, since there has been no breaking of confidentiality, the privileged character of the communication and information should remain privileged.

Do the psychotherapist-patient privilege laws in your state protect group therapy communications and information? Remember, there is a difference between privilege and confidentiality (see Archives – Privilege and Confidentiality – August 2005, Volume 1).

About the Author

Richard Leslie

Richard S. Leslie is an attorney and acknowledged expert on the interrelationship between law and the practice of marriage and family therapy and psychotherapy. Most recently, he was a consultant to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and has written articles regarding legal and ethical issues for their Family Therapy Magazine. Prior to his work with AAMFT, Richard was Legal Counsel to the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) for approximately twenty-two years. While there, he also served as their director of Government Relations and tirelessly advocated for due process and fairness for licensees and applicants.

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Avoiding Liability Bulletin – December 2008

… The psychotherapist-patient privilege (in some states, the privilege is otherwise named) exists in most if not all states in order to protect the privacy of the patient or client. In general, the privilege belongs to the patient, and the patient has certain rights under certain circumstances to prevent their therapist or counselor from testifying in court or at a deposition, or from producing records when subpoenaed to do so. One of the questions raised by those who do group therapy or counseling is whether or not the psychotherapist-patient privilege is waived or compromised by the fact that there are multiple people in the room when the confidential communication is made. The answer depends upon state law and any judicial interpretations that may exist in case law.

In one state, for example, the law (statute) essentially makes clear that a confidential communication between a patient and a psychotherapist maintains its confidential character even though the communication is disclosed in the presence of others, as in group therapy or counseling. This is so only if the communication is disclosed to the others in the session and where such disclosure is reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of the purpose for which the psychotherapist is consulted. In other words, since each member of the group is present to further the other’s purposes in the group therapy or counseling, the confidential nature of the communication is not lost. Generally, it is the confidential communications between mental health practitioner and patient that become privileged.

In the state referenced above, the law provides that the privilege statutes are to be liberally interpreted, so that the patient’s privacy is protected wherever possible. The law also recognizes that there may be joint holders of the privilege, and that a waiver of the right of a particular joint holder of the privilege to claim the privilege does not affect the right of another joint holder to claim the privilege. Thus, if a participant in group therapy or counseling were involved in a lawsuit, perhaps as a plaintiff, and if the opposing lawyer found out about this fact and subpoenaed the therapist or counselor to testify, the therapist or counselor would initially assert the privilege. Thereafter, the attorney for the plaintiff, together with his or her client, would decide whether the privilege was going to be claimed or waived. Sometimes the privilege may be waived as a matter of law, such as when the plaintiff puts his or her mental or emotional condition into issue in the lawsuit. In the absence of such a waiver by operation of law or otherwise, the participant (plaintiff) in group therapy does not typically lose the privilege because of his or her participation in group therapy. Since state law varies, practitioners must see how their particular state treats this issue.

About the Author

Richard Leslie

Learn more about Richard Leslie