Confidentiality in Encounter

Person-centred encounter groups aim to offer a safe place to explore greater openness in communication. A space where individuals can express themselves personally, expecting to be heard respectfully and empathically, without fear of interpretation, labelling, or judgment.

Participants often discuss sensitive issues in groups, assuming and expecting a level of confidentiality. However, groups rarely discuss the limits of confidentiality or negotiate a confidentiality agreement.

This document explores issues of confidentiality in groups, including guidelines for participants.

General Principles

Person-centred groups are not therapy groups; participants are not expected to be therapists. Yet, we do expect participants to be guided by person-centred principles. Participants should endeavour to treat each other with respect and consideration. Empathic listening and authentic, open responses should be the norm, holding one another with positive regard. Thus, we expect participants to be considerate, careful, and honest in what they say to or about one another, both in and out of the group.

Confidentiality in Meetings

Complete confidentiality is impossible within encounter groups, whether online or in person. As a result, each member must consider how much they want to share. Sometimes, an individual might ask a group to treat a matter as confidential. If all those present agree, each group member must honour that confidentiality.

Any meaningful encounter often involves individuals openly and honestly sharing sensitive information about themselves. We expect participants to be mindful of one another and respect that confidence. So, participants should avoid discussing what or how anything was shared to pass the time, gossip, or create an impression.

Closed groups (i.e. those with a stable membership meeting repeatedly) often get to know each other well. As the level of trust grows, so does the expectation of confidentiality. However, even these groups rarely contract for confidentiality. Thus, it remains up to each member to decide how much to share personally or when to ask for specific confidentiality.

Keeping Confidentiality

As discussed, we must respect each other, including keeping confidences outside and between groups. It is essential that what happens in a group stays within that group and is not discussed outside of it in a way that may be considered a breach of expected or agreed confidentiality.

It is often tempting to return to something discussed in an earlier group (even earlier the same day). However, the group constellation might have changed, and the new group could include people outside the original. When this happens, it is easy to break confidentiality accidentally by referring to something said in the former group. Such accidental disclosures can cause a lot of hurt and should be avoided or approached with the utmost care.

Pulling it Together

We are all responsible for confidentiality and for the safety of each group. When we don’t gossip or share another person’s personal story, we work together to make each encounter group a safe space.

While confidentiality is desirable, it cannot be guaranteed. This is particularly true in open groups where anyone can join. As a result, each person must decide for themselves how much they feel safe to share.