The ethical issues involved in the disclosure of family secrets in therapy have been addressed in the literature, but the focus has typically been on secrets disclosed in individual sessions. The literature largely ignores the ethical issues surrounding in-session disclosure and the concomitant liability of the family therapist for the post-session well-being of the system’s members. This article explores types of family secrets, provides a case example of in-session disclosure, and presents ethical considerations and practice recommendations.
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