Counselling is always confidential and this is an important part of the contract between client and counsellor, making it safe for the client. There are some exceptions, which allow the counsellor to work responsibly.

Situations which oblige me to break confidentiality are as follows:

If a client has committed a serious criminal offence, or is involved in terrorist activity.

If a child is being abused.

If I consider there is a risk of serious danger to my client harming themselves or another person.

In all cases these decisions would be taken in consultation with my supervisor, and discussion with my client.

Counsellors always discuss clients regularly with a supervisor (an experienced counsellor or psychotherapist), who also has to maintain confidentiality.

Supervision is an essential part of the work and, indeed, it’s seen as unethical for a counsellor to work without it.

 

My work is conducted according to the Ethical Framework of Counselling of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), with whom I am a registered counsellor. As such my work, excluding identifying features, is supervised by a professional supervisor. Personal information of clients (addresses, telephone numbers etc) is known only to me.

In the event of a complaint or dispute, clients are invited to raise this with my supervisor (details available on request).

If this doesn’t provide an acceptable answer then you may wish to contact BACP.

Further information about BACP is available from http://www.bacp.co.uk or:

British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
BACP House
15 St John's Business Park
Lutterworth LE17 4HB
Tel: 0870 443 5252 // Fax: 0870 443 5161