Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the profession of psychotherapy and is rooted in its core values and professional practice standards.

In addition, there are legal requirements for confidentiality for regulated health professionals under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA).

As such what you discuss in your counselling appointments will be kept in confidence within the counselling team. Information is not released outside the counselling team without written permission from the student. However, there are certain limits to confidentiality that you should be aware. These limits include:

1. if we believe that disclosure is necessary to eliminate or reduce significant, imminent risk of serious bodily harm (includes physical or psychological harm) to you or anyone else (e.g. suicide, homicide)
2. if a child is or may be at risk of abuse or neglect, or in need of protection
3. for the purpose of complying with a legal order such as a subpoena, or if the disclosure is otherwise required to facilitate an investigation authorized by warrant or provincial or federal law
4. for the purpose of contacting a relative, friend or potential substitute decision-maker if you are injured, incapacitated or ill and unable to give consent personally
5. to a college for the administration or enforcement of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991(e.g. all regulated health professionals are required to report the sexual abuse of a client by another health provider)

Please review the attached consent form prior to the first meeting with your counsellor. Your counsellor will review this with you, answering any questions you may have regarding your confidentiality rights.

— Consent Form Here —