Confidentiality Policy

The Keys to Successful Therapy

There has been a lot of research conducted to discover what makes therapy work and consistently the findings show that the key factor is the relationship that develops between therapist and client. The other most important thing is that the therapist adapts to the client’s characteristics, culture and preferences.

My Commitment to You

All relationships are based on trust, and the therapeutic relationship is no different so I will always do my best to understand you and your issues without making any presumptions. Everyone is different and you are entitled to be you and to hold your views about the world. If I struggle to understand, I will ask. I will not judge you and I will presume good intent. I will also be honest so that you will always know where you stand with me.

What You Can Talk About

It is common for clients to be worried about disclosing information, wondering if it is safe to do so. I offer you this list of some things (and there are many others) which clients may have experienced and which can be discussed confidentially:

• Abuse: domestic, physical, emotional (past or present)
• Self-harm, suicidal thoughts/attempts
• Problems with eating (e.g. bingeing, purging)
• Criminal convictions (see below for current criminal activity)  
• Disturbing thoughts or wishes
• Sexual issues

Requirements for Disclosure

Having given examples of things that you can discuss with me, it's important that you know that the law forbids our normal confidentiality if:

• I become aware of information which I either know or believe might help prevent another person carrying out an act of terrorism or might help in bringing a terrorist to justice in the UK, or about specified activities related to money and property used to assist terrorist activities.
• If I observe physical signs that an act of female genital mutilation may have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18 or I am informed by a girl under the age of 18 that she has undergone an act of female genital mutilation.
• The police request information about the driver of a vehicle at the time of an offence it must be disclosed by me as failure to do so would constitute a criminal offence on my part.
• I become aware of drug trafficking or money laundering that may be required to be reported under the Drug Trafficking Act 1994, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, if this happens, I may seek legal advice as to any statutory duty.
• I must disclose information that I am ordered to by a court or by a statutory request for access to personal data made under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

I  may  break our normal confidentiality if I become aware (or have good reason to suspect) that you have knowledge of:

• A past, present, or future incident/situation that may be dangerous or harmful to you, another adult or a child and that is not known to the relevant authorities.
• Future or past criminal activity that has not been resolved in law. This means any criminal activity, of which the relevant authorities are either unaware or a case they know about which they consider not to be closed (provided you do not present information in therapy which would reasonably re-open the case). This does not include parking or traffic offences unless there is intent, by you or anyone else, to cause danger to yourself or others, or that it is deemed to be a serious offence.

In such circumstances, I will discuss with you to see if we can work together to make appropriate disclosures. For our purposes, a serious offence is defined as: "Murder, manslaughter, rape, treason, kidnapping, child abuse or other cases where individuals have suffered serious harm or there is serious harm to the security of the state or to public order and crimes that involve substantial financial gain and loss."

Other than as required by law, I may discuss your case with my clinical supervisor. In extreme circumstances: My clinical supervisor will have access to your details if I am suddenly unavailable to work and offer you ongoing care. I may talk or write to your GP to fulfill my duty of care, but I will not give any personal details beyond what we are working on.