WHAT IS CONFIDENTIALITY?
Confidentiality is essential when providing a safe and compassionate environment for you to explore aspects of yourself and your life. I understand how difficult it can be to place trust in others and I respect your decision about with whom you choose to share your inner most thoughts and feelings.
I am bound by the:
BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions
Before beginning to work together, I will ask you to sign a counselling agreement which outlines the terms of the service I provide. The agreement states that I have explained and you have understood the limits to the confidentiality that I can offer.
I feel privileged that you have chosen to share with me and I will neither confirm nor deny you being a client to any third party unless you give express permission. I will not tell anybody else personal things about you nor what we talk about unless it becomes absolutely necessary or I am bound by the law.
Limits of Confidentiality
If I consider you to be at significant risk of harm I may need to alert others to my concerns to ensure safety and that you are receiving appropriate support. In this instance any disclosure will be made with your full awareness. I will always seek to gain your permission so we can jointly agree a way forward.
There are very specific circumstances where I may need to inform other parties of your details without your prior knowledge or consent. For instance, if I have, in good faith, reason to believe you are involved in activities relevant to the:
- Terrorism Act 2000
- Drug Trafficking Act 1994
- The Children Act 1989
- Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
- Money Laundering Regulations 2007
- The Serious Crime Act 2007
In some legal proceedings a judge may issue a court order. This would require the counsellor to testify in court. Or for notes requested (subpoenaed). I would always seek to inform you and gain consent for this to happen.
SUPERVISION
I have regular supervision where I am able to reflect on and learn from my own practice. This ensures that I am offering you the most appropriate service.
Although I will refer to the interactions we have and to the material you bring, this will always be done so in a way you cannot be identified. My supervisor is also bound by the confidentiality of the service.
Should anything happen to me which means I am unable to contact you or attend a session, such as serious illness or death, I have appointed a Therapeutic Executor. They will be able to access your contact details to inform you ONLY should this situation arise.
CHANGES TO THESE POLICIES
We may modify this privacy notice and cookie policy periodically. Please look at the effective date below this policy to see when it was last revised. Any changes will become effective when we post the modified policy.
Effective Date 08/06/2020
Please also refer to the Privacy Statement