Hypothetical Question About Disclosing Details Of A Murder Or Crime

[Jade-]

I'm not afraid to ask since I'm not the one in the position. (I'm sure it would be different if the question actually directly affected me.) I have an appointment with my psychologist tomorrow evening. I'm willing to ask him and report back to you if you'd like.

So, did you ask?

 

[catjudo]

Sorry. It's been a long night and just now getting online for the first time since my appointment.

Just as I was thinking, and others here had written, the therapist would be bound by confidentiality.

 

[Jade-]

OK, thanks for finding out for me. I appreciate it.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

Jadebear,

I sincerely hope this reply isn't out of place and is taken in the right vein :

I am in no way, shape or form a mental health professional. but I DO have a law degree and thus, I do know how thoroughly 'taxing on the conscience' confidentiality can be. That said, you will NOT help yourself by lying to your therapist or hiding things from your therapist. Gosh, i feel like an arrogant twat even drawing a parrellel. But, I used to think this (I hope you can see the metaphor) -

If a client walks into a lawyer's office and HIDES things they are not helping their case. Those things are eventually going to come up and the lawyer will be completely unprepared to deal with them because they didnt KNOW in advance. If you really want help then TELL the TRUTH to your therapist. They are genuinely there to help you. A lot of people on this site talk about misdiagnosis - im sure sometimes that IS a 'human error' on behalf of the T. ALSO, I'm sure sometimes the T misdiagnosed because the T was not told something, etc. I realise it is hard to speak to someone in that kind of position --- but dont be afraid. If for no other reason, remember you are PAYING this person to help. So if you walk in there and dont reveal the problem you are simply wasting your money. Of course take your time. But when you are asked a question in therapy take a moment to reflect before you answer. And then give the most honest answer you can give. That is what you are paying this person to deal with - the truth.

I've read some of your recent posts and I think you are really brave. Keep going and keep talking - to your TTTTTT!! You've done nothing wrong and they are not out there to get you. They are there to help you. As is everyone here.

(once again I hope this post is not out of place)

***big hugs***

-J

P.S - Just to add - you are not paying this person to go after someone else or to prosecute someone else. You are paying them to listen to YOUR truth. They are bound by confidentiality and every minute that you are in that room they should be focused on YOU. So - focus on YOURSELF too. That is the best way to see your money well spent.

 

[Jade-]

Jen, you obviously don't believe this was just a hypothetical question. That's ok though, I realized nobody would think it was after I posted it, but I couldn't delete it.

I am trying really hard to be honest with my T. I'm just not sure what the truth is or if this stuff in my head is real or not. I didn't want to talk to him about any of it because of A.) fear and B.) it's an awful big accusation to make against someone, especially if i'm not sure it's true.

But now that I know it's all confidential, I may be able to talk about it.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

Jadebear,

I humbly apologise if my response seemed as though I didn't believe you about it being a hypothetical. Just put that out of your mind because I'm certainly not here to pass judgment about something I know nothing about. I absolutely understand you not wanting you to falsely accuse someone. Tell your T that too. Maybe just be totally honest and say 'ok, this is what is going on in my head, but I haven't yet reconciled with whether or not it is actually real'. I sure hope I didn't scare ya with my response.

Good luck. You're being really brave as far as I can tell.

 

[Jade-]

No need to apologize. I wasn't really fooling anyone anyway,was I ? LOL

I usually do tell my T "this is the shit that's in my head, whether it's real or not, I don't know". Usually within a week or two I realize that it is real and then we discuss it more.

This is alot different than anything else I've got going on in my head though.

And no, you didn't scare me with your response.

 

[Jade-]

I asked my T. this question myself. He said no, he's not obligated, unless it's recent history. I should have just asked him in the first place, but I was afraid to.

 

[Ladyhope Somerset]

Hi Jadebear
I've been following this thread with real interest and you have proved something to me.
Someone once said to me, if there is something you're afraid of asking then that is probably one of the most important things you could be talking about'
I'm glad you found the courage to ask the question.
I feel I learnt a great lesson today. Thank you and good luck!
LH

 

[Jade-]

It's like 4 months later and I just can't seem to get the words out of my mouth. I hint, I tell everything but a certain part, I do everything except flat out say it. I completely freeze.

 

[Iam]

Hi Jade...

That is so understandable given the nature of the ordeal. Maybe you could write it out and give it to him? The fact that you freeze up IMHO is proof that it is something you need to discuss. We both know that sometimes the only way we can initiate that type of discussion is to write it out first. It at least has been effective for me and I think I remember that you have used this technique a couple of times too. Once written out and given to him your mind acknowledges that he knows. And your T then knows which questions to ask you to help you actually verbalize what happened. IDK....just a thought. God I wish I could help you do it.

 

[Jade-]

Once written out and given to him your mind acknowledges that he knows..

I'm sure he already knows. It's pretty obvious what comes next in the story. I know he's just waiting for me to say it out loud.