Counselling confidentiality in a small country town
As a professional I take your Privacy and Confidentiality very seriously, they are the corner stone of my private practice.
A code of ethics counsellors are required to follow
As a member of the Australian Counselling Association I abide by a code of professional ethics which outlines my responsibilities for protecting your confidentiality, see link below. I simply could not do my job without providing privacy, safety and trust. I consider it a privilege to work with clients and an integral part of this work is to provide a sacred space where privacy and confidentiality are essential. Privacy and confidentiality underpin all that we do in counselling.
My approach to working in a small town and privacy
In addition to the ethical side of confidentiality there is also working and living in a small country town and so as a client what happens when we bump in to each other in the street or you know me or a family member? I assure you, no matter what social or community setting we may find ourselves in our therapeutic relationship will be kept privately and safely prized, this is my highest priority. I work professionally and respectfully in session and in community.
If you have any questions regarding confidentiality, I welcome you contacting me to discuss.
Australian Counselling Association - Code of Ethics
4.4 Confidentiality
(a) Confidentiality is a means of providing the client with safety and privacy and thus protects client autonomy. For this reason, any limitation on the degree of confidentiality is likely to diminish the effectiveness of counselling.
(b) The counselling contract will include any agreement about the level and limits of the confidentiality offered. This agreement can be reviewed and changed by negotiation between the counsellor and the client. Agreements about confidentiality continue after the client’s death unless there are overriding legal or ethical considerations. In cases where the client’s safety is in jeopardy any confidentially agreements that may interfere with this safety are to be considered void (see 3.6 ‘Exceptional circumstances’).
(c) Confidentiality extends to client records which must be kept securely – be they maintained as hard copy or by digital processes.