I don't know did you consented for him/her to do it? did he/she ask you first?

I could see how it would be beneficial for a therapist....they could play it again and look for facial and body language that gives them cues as to when someone is talking what are they really feeling.....

But they should have asked you first. Explain to you why are they doing it and give you the prerogative and you have had to give consent.

Otherwise personally I think its unethical.

I've seen a lot of therapists over the years and never been videotaped. I couldn't possibly endure that. But no one has even asked me. I assume, as Tusitalo says, that they would have asked your written consent. Otherwise it seems to me it would be a breach of confidentiality.

Can you tell us more about the circumstances?

exactly donna...case of uninformed consent....extremely unethical. In some cases cause for a law suit.

I think the therapist would have to get your written consent to tape and to state who could view it and for what purposes.

He or she should have asked you first for your consent and explain to you what was the videotape for. I dont know how are the laws where you live, but a written consent might have been needed. Tell us please more details if you want.

I have heard of videotaping people to help them see how they are performing in job interviews or as teachers, but not in a therapy session. I know the police videotape statements of rape victims where I live.

I'm sorry this has happened to you. I would find it quite frightening. I would be afraid to go back, in fact.

This sounds reckless and unprofessional to me. How experienced is this therapist? Is he/she just starting out?

I would demand an explanation. If they give you trouble over this, consult an attorney. It sounds illegal to me too...assuming they didn't get written consent for the recording.

When a therapist is training we are often expected to obtain recordings of some clients/sessions. This has only ever been audio recording in my experience and there must be EXPLICIT consent and understanding as to the uses on the clients part.

If there was no consent then your therapist has done something very wrong as far as I am aware, especially as a video recording would make you identifiable if this were used for supervision/case reports etc.

Also, bear in mind that if you are not fully informed and don't understand the purpose and use of the recording then even if you gave consent, it would be invalid.

You should find out which professional body your therapist is registered with... they will have a complaints procedure for you to follow. This behaviour concerns me.

I was videotaped as a child, they explained everything, and I presume got my mom to sign a consent form.

...forgot about that...
You should have signed consent forms, as everyone else said.

I would be willing to be recorded...I think I would even allow that to be used for a training video.
...there's a certain stigma attached to MI people by some non-mentally ill people...one of them is that we are not that smart
I'm obviously ( ahem ) pretty intelligent...
...I really hate it when professionals assume I'm a flaming idiot because I'm nuts.
No, I'm just nuts.
I also hate it when they think I'm less capable than other people.
Again, no, I'm just nuts. If the nuts part is well-managed, I can have a pretty successful life.

When I first began working with my psychologist he told me that he sometimes videotapes sessions but not often and he would let me know when it was happening. I t was also part of the intake and consent packet I signed when I first started seeing him.
I also went to a psychiatrist years ago who videotaped sessions but again...not everyone and he would ask first.

My counsellor audio taped some sessions with me whilst she was still in training. This however was done with my full consent and written signature. However she would stop recording any time I felt uncomfortable etc.