At the Centre for Cognitive & Behavioural Change, CONFIDENTIALITY is respected at all times.
In a therapy session, information/knowledge shared is considered privileged. When such information is shared with your therapist, the therapist acknowledges the information is private and/or restricted and works to uphold your privacy. Therefore, no information will be communicated, directly or indirectly to a third party without your written, informed, and voluntary consent.
There are a few exceptions to maintaining client confidentiality as laid out by Canadian Law and the Code of Ethics of Professional Mental Health Associations. Exceptions to confidentiality include the legal obligation to:
- Inform potential victim of violence of the client’s intention to inflict harm;
- Inform an appropriate health care professional of a client’s intention to end his/her life;
- Release a client’s file if it is subpoenaed by a court of law;
- Inform the Children’s Aid Society if there is a suspicion of a child at risk forsexual, emotional, and/or physical abuse; or neglect
- Inform Motor Vehicle Branch and/or the police if client is impaired by drugs and/or alcohol and intends to drive
The therapist may discuss a client’s case with a consultant in the mental health profession. The consultant is obligated to maintain the same level of confidentiality as the therapist. As an extra precaution when seeking consultation, the therapist will refrain from using names and /or identifying information.