Confidentiality Guidelines

Trust is the strongest pillar of the therapeutic relationship. We aspire to foster that trust through transparency with the clients, establishing healthy boundaries, and maintaining confidentiality. Please go through this section carefully to understand the scope of confidentiality and informed consent.

1. Client confidentiality is the requirement that counsellors, psychiatrists, and most other mental health professionals protect their client’s privacy by not revealing the contents of therapy. Confidentiality includes not just the contents of therapy, but often the fact that a client is in therapy.

2. Counselling involves sharing sensitive, personal, and private information that may at times be distressing. In the course of counselling, there may be periods of increased anxiety or confusion. The outcome of counselling is generally positive; however, the level of satisfaction for any individual is not predictable or guaranteed as that depends upon many factors.

3. Counselors protect the confidential information of prospective and current clients. Counselors disclose information only with appropriate consent or with sound legal or ethical justification.

4. Limitations to confidentiality:

In certain situations, Counsellors are required by law to reveal information obtained during therapy/sessions to other persons or agencies without Your consent. In such situations, the Counsellor is not required to inform You of his/her actions. Please note the following exceptions to confidentiality:

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a) Confidentiality obligation does not apply to cases of suspected abuse/neglect of children or the elderly.

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b) Confidentiality obligation does not apply to cases of potential harm to self or others.

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c) A Counsellor may disclose Confidential Information in legal proceedings brought by You or against You.

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d) Confidentiality obligation does not apply to cases involving criminal proceedings, except communications by a person voluntarily involved in a substance abuse program.

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e) Confidentiality obligation may not apply in cases involving legal proceedings including affecting the parent-child relationship.

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f) Confidentiality obligation may not apply to cases involving a minor child. In such cases, the Counsellor may advise a parent, managing conservator or guardian of a minor, with or without minor’s consent, of the treatment needed by or given to the minor.

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g) Confidentiality may not apply in case the counselling Sessions are being conducted in course of Your legal proceedings including divorce proceedings. Confidentiality may not apply if we are bound by any court order issued by an appropriate court or any order issued by any appropriate governmental body.

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5. To ensure continued quality care, your counsellor may discuss the case details with their respective Supervisor from time to time. The supervisor will also be ethically bound to maintain extended confidentiality.

6. In all the above cases/limitations, it is incumbent upon the Counsellors to release only such information necessary to appropriately carry out his/her responsibilities.

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Your confidentiality obligation still remains an ethical priority.

7.  Ethical considerations:

As a part of the client-therapist/Counsellor code of ethics, following are a few things to keep in mind:

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a) As a Counsellor, an encounter with You in a social setting shall only be acknowledged if  You acknowledge the Counsellor first. 

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b) To maintain boundaries, a Counsellor shall not accept requests from the client on any third-party/social platforms. (E.g: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn)

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c) The Counsellor will be available on Call/WhatsApp (Based on the timings given by the Counsellor) only for You to book an appointment for their sessions. (Exceptions only in case of a telephonic session planned with the client beforehand).

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d) No calls/emails/messages regarding Your personal concerns shall be attended by the Counsellor.

Payment of session fees / services rendered.

a) Kindly ensure timely payment of the session fees at the time counselling services are rendered through online payment method option/s provided by the counsellor.

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b) All the payment of fees shall be paid prior to the session on per Session basis. In case of multiple Sessions booking payment of fees for all the sessions should be made in advance or on a per session basis. In case of any delay in payment, counsellor shall have the right to suspend Your sessions.

Cancellations / Rescheduling / Late arrivals:

a) You are requested to promptly arrive for appointments.

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b) Please inform two (2) hours prior if You will be late for the Session.

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c) Cancellations / Rescheduling must be made twenty-four (24) hours in advance to avoid charge. Missed appointments will be charged the regular fees.

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d) In cases of late arrival by the client, the session will be concluded at the pre-decided time regardless.

e) In rare cases, if your counsellor requests a last minute cancellation / reschedule, we will be offering you an additional session at no cost to you. {Please note that the term ‘last-minute’ here refers to a request made within 24 hours of the session time.}

And lastly, we understand that starting the process of therapy or counselling can be overwhelming. Please understand that these ethical guidelines are here to protect clients seeking mental health care. If you have any queries, feel free to bring those up!