Editing Twelve-step program (section)

===Confidentiality===
The [[Twelve Traditions]] encourage members to practice the [[Spirituality|spiritual]] principle of [[anonymity]] in the public media and members are also asked to respect each other's [[confidentiality]].<ref name="LEVINE2000">{{cite book |title=I shop, therefore I am: compulsive buying and search for shelf |editor1=Benson, April Lane |chapter=Chapter 18: Debtors Anonymous and Psychotherapy |pages=431–454 |year=2000 |isbn=0765702428 |oclc=301650820 |author=Levine, Betsy; Kellen, Bonnie|publisher=Jason Aronson }}</ref> This is a group [[Norm (sociology)|norm]],<ref name="LEVINE2000"/> however, and not legally mandated; there are no legal consequences to discourage those attending [[List of twelve-step groups|twelve-step groups]] from revealing information disclosed during meetings.<ref name="COLEMAN2005"/> [[Statute]]s on [[group therapy]] do not encompass those associations that lack a professional [[therapist]] or [[clergyman]] to whom confidentiality and privilege might apply. Professionals and [[paraprofessional]]s who refer patients to these groups, to avoid both [[civil liability]] and [[licensure]] problems, have been advised that they should alert their patients that, at any time, their statements made in meetings may be disclosed.<ref name="COLEMAN2005">{{cite journal |author=Coleman P |title=Privilege and confidentiality in 12-step self-help programs. Believing the promises could be hazardous to an addict's freedom |journal=The Journal of Legal Medicine |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=435–74 |date=2005-12-01 |pmid=16303734 |doi=10.1080/01947640500364713|s2cid=31742544 }}</ref>