As the century draws to a close, information flows more generously and privacy withers. This is true of the general society but has even more ominous effects in psychology. This note is an encapsulated version of a paper delivered at the A.P.A. meeting in 1999. It surveys the present state of therepist-client confidentiality in telehealth and makes a few modest predictions about the immediate future.
Clients expect privacy beyond the ability of practitioners to provide it.
Confidentiality is probably an important prerequisite to treatment. Tarasoff requires warning an identified potential victim. The therapist may use client information involuntarily to commit. The therapist may use client information in legal self-defense. Insurance companies want client information related to payments.