Confidentiality is of utmost importance to me. Especially as a counsellor in a small town, maintaining strict confidentiality is key to my practice. It takes strength and courage to seek help in facing problems and I understand that many people are concerned about keeping this part of their lives confidential.
Everything is confidential in the interaction between a client and a counsellor. This means that all of the information given by a client in a session, including scheduling and attendance in sessions is confidential information. Telephone conversations, including voicemail messages are also strictly confidential.
If the client is a child or an adolescent, confidentiality will be addressed together with both the youth and his/her parent(s) or guardian(s). Although young clients have the same right to confidentiality as an adult client, most youth are willing to provide their parents or guardians with some of the information revealed in counselling. I am also very careful in specifically asking young clients what personal information I can use when talking with the adults that care for them. This way, the youth will know what counselling information the parent or guardian can access.
As a certified member the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), I adhere to strict guidelines governing confidentiality. Click here for more information about the ethics of the CCPA.
I take confidentiality very seriously. All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential and will not be revealed to any third parties except:
- When disclosure is required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the client or others
- When legal requirements demand that confidential material be revealed
- When a child is in need of protection