Confessed something to therapist and she wants to tell my parent

I've been going to therapy at the same office as my mother for 4 weeks now. I'm an adult but I live at home while attending a university. We are not in family therapy, we are in separate sessions and i didn't give my mother my medical power of attorney. I've been having bad issues with her recently and don't always feel safe around her. Today I felt comfortable enough to tell my therapist that I often have suicidal thoughts, especially when my mother gets angry with me and says awful things to me. Her idea was to contact her director and sit me down with my mother to address this. I told her I don't want to and she still wants to tell my mother these things I confessed despite the fact that it could be very negative to my home environment. Isn't that illegal since I'm an adult? She can't just break confidentiality even if it is my mother or am I wrong?

It is illegal! Remind this therapist that you have a patient/ doctor relationship and she does not have your authority to discuss your medical/mental/psychological issues with anyone. Tell her that if she violated your confidential relationship you will seek legal advice,( be sure to put this all in writing. Remind her that you are an adult with legal rights. The purpose for counseling was to discuss your feelings in "confidence". Cease treating with her immediately, do not allow this therapist to deter you from seeking help with a true professional. Keep in touch.

Depending on where you live rules/laws may differ. I agree that threats of harm to you/others would need addressing, however finally feeling comfortable to open up to discuss your thoughts was a move forward for you, having feelings does not always mean acting on them, then to be told you must address your abuser without you feeling mentally strong to do so. I understand home reality vs a controlled therapy session which may not portray your real home environment. You and your mom will need to meet in family therapy,to address and come to terms with the abusive environment your mother has created and where her anger comes from. The therapist should prepare you and your mother for such a meeting I HEAR you when you say you don't feel safe around your mother. Your "thoughts" should be taken seriously, as well as your "feelings" of being in an unsafe environment. I hope others who have real experience in this area will respond.

Whether UK or US-based: She's obligated by law, as overrides the issue of client permission, yes. But only where the threat of harm to the client or other people known to her/him poses a serious, imminent risk. A good therapist is expected to be capable of distinguishing between thoughts of (and talking about) suicide and actual plans or threats. Your therapist/clinic clearly isn't intending to bring in the Police, other healthcare practitioners, including your general practitioner, or social services (or any official body), just your mother. In this case, the nature of the sole intended recipient *itself* disproves the fact of any 'risk of serious or imminent harm' or disclosure being in the public interest. And neither have you given your consent by way of signing any kind of information release form. If you, the adult service user, object to her and her clinic sharing your information then they have to respect your views. You have, you've expressly stated your objection, based on how it could cause more harm than good, which overrides any (what's called) 'implied consent'. I would threaten legal action if she goes ahead. IN WRITING. NOW. Or contact her director.