Limits of Confidentiality for Group Leader

The leader of the group has a legal obligation to take direct action in order to guarantee safety for every member of the group. Here are the situations in which the facilitator is mandated to break confidentiality:

• If you are a threat to yourself, the group leader is required to report your statement to your family, to your individual therapist, or to other mental health professionals;
• If you threaten harm or death to another person, the group leader is required by law to notify the appropriate parties or authorities;
• If you reveal information relative to child abuse, child neglect, or elder abuse, the group leader is required by law to report it to the appropriate authority;
• If a court of law issues a legitimate court order (signed by a judge), the group leader is required by law to provide the information specifically described in that order.

In addition, your group facilitator might consult with other professionals regarding the group’s interactions. This helps providers to learn other perspectives and ideas concerning how best to help you reach your goals in group. No identifying information is shared in such consultations unless a release has been obtained from you as a group member.

I understand the limits of confidentiality as described above.

Documentation

The leader of the group might share with you materials, slides, documents, visuals and more, to help the group achieve their goals. This information is not to be distributed outside the group. Because it is part of a process, the documents used in the group cannot be shared with individuals that are not members of the group. They might be used erroneously and be detrimental for whoever uses them without guidelines of professionals. I understand that the information, documents, slides and all contents shared in the group is not to be distributed outside the group.

Active Participation

Members of effective groups actively share thoughts, reactions, and feelings, increasing self-awareness and contributing to the growth of themselves and other members of the group. Indeed, members of the group benefit more if they share and participate; the more you are open and honest in the group, the more you gain insight and growth. However, no group member is ever required or forced to share anything they are not comfortable sharing.

• If I am asked questions or asked to participate in an activity which makes me feel uncomfortable, I understand that I have the right to pass and/ or to refuse.
• I agree that I will never pressure other group members to participate in any discussion or activity after the member has passed or refused.
• I also understand that I will benefit more from the group the more I am able to take risks in sharing and participating.

Respect and Safety

Mutual respect, safety and dignity are priorities in any therapeutic and/or support group. While the group facilitator will work on maintaining a respectful environment to keep safety and trust a priority, members of the group are required to comply with norms that guarantee emotional and physical safety. Hence, no group member is ever humiliated, hazed, or abused in any way. Violence or intimidation toward other group members is never tolerated. Gossip and secret grudges can be very destructive in a group.

• I agree that if I have something to say to another group member, I will try to say it to the member directly rather than talk about them behind their back. Group members cannot participate in the group under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering drugs.
• I agree to avoid this destructive behavior.
• I understand that I must never be violent or intimidating toward other group members and that if I threaten to harm persons or property, I will be asked to leave the group.
• I understand that if the leader believes that I am under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, I will be asked to leave the group.

Your Safety

Your safety is a priority for us. We will try to provide you with the support you need during the group meetings and give you all the information you need to be safe outside the group. During the group meeting, if you make comments suggesting suicidal thoughts or homicidal thoughts, please be aware that a counselor may follow up with you after the meeting has ended to ask additional questions about these disclosures in order to assess the current level of risk. You may be contacted after the group for follow-up by the group facilitator and/or your individual counselor upon notification by the group facilitator. If we cannot reach you and suspect you might be at risk of harm to yourself or others, we reserve the right to communicate with your emergency contact or request a wellness check by the local police in your area.

Outside the group meetings, if at any point you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or homicide, it is your responsibility to contact a crisis line or 911. The Crisis Clinic in your county can also be a great support: Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/

• I agree that it is my responsibility to contact the closest crisis line near me, If and when I am experiencing thoughts of suicide or homicide.

Online Safety and Respect

We understand that the use of the Internet, online connection, and social media impact virtually all aspects of our lives. However, as therapists, coaches, and members of groups, we must define the boundary of our relationship. Due to ethical obligations, your relationship with your group leader/s will be exclusively professional and any other rapport outside the therapeutic environment will be avoided. Hence, we will not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking sites, and we ask that clients never contact us using any type of social media or web-based application communication tools. Keeping the relationship professional is ethical and beneficial for you. Due to the goal of creating a safe environment in the group, we ask you to guarantee privacy and respect in how you connect with all participants.

• I agree that I will NOT contact group leaders using social media or other forms of web-based application communication tools.
• I agree that I will respect the privacy of the other members of the group.
• I understand that cyber stalking or bullying the other participants of the group are not acceptable.
• I understand that If I engage in disrespectful activities online, I could be removed from the group.

Groups via Telehealth Services

Hallowell Center groups are currently using ZOOM for group telehealth services. This system meets HIPAA standards of encryption and privacy protection, but we cannot guarantee privacy. Our commitment to maintaining confidentiality remains the same as stated above. However, because of the risks associated with using technology, we have a decreased ability to fully guarantee confidentiality of your information. To do our best, we are using a HIPAA compliant platform and we will engage in group telehealth services over a secure internet connection. We encourage you to take the same precautions to protect your information. Telehealth services have potential benefits, including easier access to care, continuity of care, increased social connection, the convenience of meeting from a location and time of your choosing, and ability to limit one’s physical contact with others during COVID-19. There are potential risks to this technology, including interruptions, unauthorized access or breaches of information, and technical difficulties, which cannot be predicted or fully controlled. Please be patient with the facilitator and other group members in this process. To guarantee a safe environment during a telehealth group, you have responsibilities:

1. You must use a secure (non-public) internet connection to participate in the group.
2. Recording of the telehealth group meeting by members is strictly prohibited. It is your responsibility to disable computer and device-generated recording. You may be subject to legal action by group members if you create or share any recordings of group meetings. Should the facilitator need to record the session for supervision purposes, that person will first obtain the written consent of all participants.
3. In order to maintain the group’s privacy, it is important to connect from a quiet and private place with no interruptions or distractions from people or other devices. It is imperative that no persons, other than yourself, are in hearing or visual proximity to you during the group meeting.
4. Although guarantees cannot be provided by the group facilitator(s), group members must agree to maintain the confidentiality of other group members. This means that you may not disclose names or other identifying information about group members, nor may you discuss the personal issues and experiences of other members. This includes, but is not limited to, written posts and pictures on social media forums.
5. It is important that group members arrive on time for the group meeting to minimize disruptions.

I understand the benefits and potential risks to groups telehealth services and their technology, reported above.

• I will not share my telehealth appointment link with anyone unauthorized to attend the appointment. I will not record or photograph any part of the group or the group members or allow anyone into my room while the group is in session.
• I understand that I may learn the full names of group members due to their name being listed on the video. I agree not to seek out any information about group members (e.g., using a search engine or social media), nor contact them outside of group if this is against the specific group agreements. If I choose not to show my full name, I will ask the group leader how to change my display name, if I do not know how to do it.
• I understand I need to have access to the appropriate technology to participate in the service provided. This includes being on a secure internet connection, rather than public or free Wi-Fi. For video sessions, I will be in a room where there is good lighting, keep the video steady and at eye contact level, and keep my camera on throughout the entirety of the session.
• I understand that if a member, or the entire group, gets disconnected, I will try to reconnect, engaging for the remainder of the session, or I will email the leader. I understand that I need to be in a location free of disruptions, where I am alone and can speak freely, and where others will not see the screen, or hear the conversations of the group. This may include using headphones if necessary.

Refund Policy

All sales are final for group and subscription-based purchases. We do not offer refunds, credits, or transfers except under specific circumstances. Refunds may be considered only in cases of medical emergencies or illness that prevents participation for the duration of the program or subscription. To request a refund due to an emergency or illness, please email us at frontdesk@hallowellcenter.org. All requests must be submitted within 7 days of the start of the group session or subscription period. Refund decisions are made at the discretion of Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center and are not guaranteed.

Responsibilities

I understand that it is the group leader's responsibility to enforce these procedures and guidelines. The group may, when it wishes, propose other procedures and guidelines which will be up to the group to monitor.