Fequently Asked Questions
- Is our relationship Confidential?
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What you say to me during counselling is private and confidential, except only that:
Where your counselling is funded by others, they may impose certain limitations and conditions on confidentiality. These are most unusual and if any apply, you will be told in advance. - My records of our sessions are ‘discoverable’ This means that if I receive a court order requiring me to produce my records at court, I must obey that order.
- If what a client says suggests that he may become a danger to others, I may break client confidentiality.
- If a client appears to be becoming a danger to himself, I must take steps to protect that client. That may involve breaking confidentiality.
- To maintain the quality of my practice I must myself receive supervision. That supervision necessarily involves discussion of client matters, but those discussions are themselves confidential, and usually no personal details are disclosed.
In practice, it is very, very rare to have to break a confidence.
- Train
- Training as a counsellor is a long process mixing academic study and practical experience.
- Are You Supervised?
- supervision is a process in which a counsellor can talk to another and more experienced counsellor about their professional practice. Yes, I obtain full supervision for each area of my practice. Registered Counsellors must have their practice regularly supervised.
