My ethical dilemma... What would you do?

[Operation_Ripper]

@Purplkid_Caterer

So, based on what I already thought and what everyone else here has contributed it’s OK to talk about me if the employee already knew I was in therapy?

Let me make sure I understand what is happening here. Are you saying the SD actually disclosed your name and that is how your employee learned about you undergoing therapy, or that your employee already knew that you were receiving therapy because you yourself disseminated the info, and the employee later informed you their SD works at the same place?

[Chimera]

@Purplkid_Caterer

Yes, thank you. However, I really don’t want to go there anymore. And, if I ‘tell’ on the girl other than anonymously I will get her stepmother, my employee in trouble for telling me what the SD said.

1> If you don’t want to go back, call your Psychologist and tell him/her why you are not going to return. Ask for a referal. I’m sure s/he would appreciate knowing.

2> Regarding getting your employee in trouble: SO WHAT. If you really want to keep her around, you can defend her actions, but do you really want an employee of yours around knowing that she might have been privy to things you’d rather not have widely known, and can therefore spill these things to everyone else who works for, with, or above you?

[Little_Cloud]

I can see why you might not feel comfortable returning to that practice. I wouldn’t either.

Do you really feel bonded to your therapist - is he/she incredibly helpful ?  If so, you might ask your therapist to keep your records locked up separately so office staff doesn't have access to them anymore.

If you are not all that impressed with the therapist a change may be the right move for you.  If you do decide to change, consider someone who does not practice in a group.  Therapists who work solo will not cause you to worry about how well they monitor their staff.  

Whatever you decide, I'm glad you let them know what was going on there.  It was a terrible betrayal of your trust.

[Malacandra]

@tdn

Oh, thank god! I needed a therapist to tell me I’m not alone in my plight.

What?

Yo, banana boy!

(Just for the sake of the palindrome.)

[Dangerosa]

@Gengis

Years ago a friend worked at a psych hospital, and told me that a girl I went to high school with was a patient there; she went into detail about her diagnosis and treatment. I should not have that information, of course, but part of me was all a-giggle, I admit, having never really liked said person in high school.

I had a similar situation. Years ago I was sexually harassed and assaulted by my boss. I was moved into a different job. He was apparently given counseling (I wasn’t). A few months after that, the department I was moved to went through layoffs and they had a psychologist come talk to a few people - people who had seen close friends laid off or people who’d seen most of their team let go. For some reason (mostly I think because they were handling me with kid gloves), I was identified as “at risk” and was told to go talk to the psychologist.

The psychologist was treating my former boss. During our discussion he mentioned that (which was the only way I knew there was counseling involved), mentioned that my former boss was deluded and that I had indeed been victimized and that former boss showed no remorse and didn’t understand he’d done anything wrong. (A few months after that former boss was escorted from the building).

Unethical as hell - but boy am I glad it happened.

(The corporate employment attorney involved in the case also, very unethically, let me know that if I sued they didn’t have a leg to stand on. I didn’t sue. And one of they guys in finance let me know there was an accounting reserve with my name on it in case I sued - also unethical. I get the feeling people wanted me to sue).