Counselling Confidentiality & Terms

Confidentiality

Information you share with me during counselling is treated as confidential.

I will not disclose information you share during counselling without your consent, except where disclosure is required or authorised by law, or where one of the limits to confidentiality outlined below applies.

Your personal and sensitive information is also handled in accordance with the De-Stress and be HAPPY Privacy Policy.

 

Limits to confidentiality

There are circumstances where confidentiality may need to be limited. These can include where:

• there are serious concerns about your immediate safety or the safety of another person;

• there is a serious threat of harm to a person or serious damage to property;

• disclosure is required or authorised by law, including the mandatory reporting obligations outlined below;

• disclosure is required by a valid court order or other legal requirement; or

• you have given consent for information to be shared with another person or service.
   

Where it is appropriate and safe to do so, I will aim to discuss the situation with you before information is shared and involve you in decisions about accessing additional support.
 

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Children and young people

As a mandated reporter, I am required under South Australian child-protection law to make a report if, in the course of my work, I form a reasonable suspicion that a child or young person is, or may be, at risk of harm.
 

Where appropriate and safe to do so, I will aim to discuss my concerns with you and continue to support you through the process. However, there may be circumstances where a report must be made without first discussing it with you.

 

Sharing information with other professionals

With your consent, I may share information with another professional or service involved in your care or support where this would be helpful or appropriate.
 

This may include, for example, your GP, psychologist, psychiatrist or another treating or support professional.

Where possible, I will discuss with you what information is being shared, with whom and for what purpose.

Where ongoing communication or exchange of information is required, you may be asked to complete a separate Authority to Share and/or Obtain Information.

 

Legal requests for information

Counselling records and information may sometimes be requested as part of legal proceedings, including through a subpoena or court order.
 

Receiving a request for information does not necessarily mean that all counselling information will automatically be disclosed. Any request will be considered in accordance with the applicable law and requirements of the court.
 

Where appropriate and legally permitted, I will aim to discuss the request with you.

 

Privacy and client records

Personal and sensitive information collected as part of counselling is handled in accordance with the De-Stress and be HAPPY Privacy Policy.
 

You may request access to personal information held about you or ask for information to be corrected if you believe it is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.
 

Further information about how your information is collected, stored, used and protected is available in our Privacy Policy.

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