Confidentiality

By entering into counselling you embark on the journey of self-awareness and personal growth. This awareness will positively help you rise above any barriers that inhibit you from realising your personal goals. Having the confidence to openly discuss and explore all personal thoughts and feelings is a vital to the success of the counselling process. However, within the initial assessment session you need to know the parameters of confidentiality.

Essentially, what is disclosed within a counselling relationship remains totally confidential. However, there are rare exceptions that most therapists have to adhere to. In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to break confidentiality.

These exceptions on confidentiality and are:
• where there is serious risk of harm to yourself or others;
• where disclosure is required by law (e.g. prevention of terrorism)
• where disclosure is requested by yourself or with your written consent.
• if the counsellor is summoned as a witness by a Court of Law.

Should this happen, we would work together to establish the extent and nature of any disclosure and as to how other people, such as a GP, could become involved.