Confidentiality
Counselling, Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis and Psychology are Confidential Therapies
- The information a client shares with their therapist, whether the therapist is a counsellor, psychotherapist, psychoanalyst or psychologist, is treated by the therapist as confidential.
- A confidential client - therapist relationship enables a client to air their concerns in ways not always possible in other types of relationships.
- People in a client's personal and work lives, as well as other professionals, may have different definitions of confidentiality to the one held by the client's therapist.
Client - Therapist Clarification of Confidentiality
- A client and a therapist should discuss confidentiality and make a confidentiality agreement during assessment, prior to the start of therapy.
- Circumstances when confidentiality may be broken should be clarified, such as when someone is believed to be at risk of serious harm or when required by a court of law.
- The therapist should always obtain the prior consent of the client before involving another person, although this may not always be possible.
Disclaimer: All content within the RSCPP website is provided for general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for the advice of a doctor, counsellor, psychoanalyst, psychologist or psychotherapist who you should always consult if you are concerned about your mental health. RSCPP is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content within the RSCPP website or for any service provided by a doctor, counsellor, psychoanalyst, psychologist or psychotherapist. All content copyright © RSCPP Ltd 2007-2012.