Directive to Protect Mental Health Information
An Essential New Form for Psychotherapists and Counselors
Clinical Update November 2008
By Zur Institute
For a complete list of all Clinical Updates, click here.
Zur Institute is now offering a simple, short form, Directive to Protect Mental Health Information, developed to help clients secure the confidentiality of their mental health records AFTER clients' deaths: http://www.zurinstitute.com/MH_Directive.html
This Directive is aimed at insuring that, in the event of a client's death, personal information shared in trust during psychotherapy sessions will NOT be revealed to any other person.
Consider the following clinical situations:
An 88 year old client, who recently suffered two heart attacks and was facing an inevitable-deadly third one, did not want any of his descendants to see his clinical-psychotherapy records. He is a private and rather introverted man.
A middle aged woman, who underwent therapy to work on issues associated with her multiple extramarital affairs, survived a recent car accident. When we resumed therapy she was concerned that, had she died, this hurtful information could have been open to her husband of 20 years and their children.
A 25 year old female, who struggled with the shame of sexually compulsive behavior, entered therapy and was immediately concerned about who could see her records if she were to meet with an untimely death. She felt she could not enter treatment without first being assured that her records would be safe.
These cases illustrate the benefit of the new form, DIRECTIVE TO PROTECT MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION. You may provide the form to new clients at the beginning of treatment when you discuss issues of confidentiality.
5 Ways to Receive the Directive to Protect Mental Health Information Form:
The Directive is given as a FREE BONUS with ALL new orders of Zur Institute, online courses and online catalog products from now to the end of 2008.
The Directive is included in the recently revised Clinical Forms.
Receive the Directive when you order the End of Life online course.
Receive the Directive when you order the Record Keeping online course.
