Here's a glimpse of our service agreement that we are ethical obligated to discuss and sign upon with clients before starting counselling.
Any information about the client or sessions is held with utmost confidentially and can only be released by either the client’s written and signed consent or by court order. The client is also encouraged to keep discussions during sessions confidential to ensure the best results of the work together.
In some cases, the counsellor will have to share information about the client or sessions with concerned authorities.
They are listed below-
Confidentiality Limitations
When the client may be a danger to self or others, the counsellor is obligated to keep the client safe;
When there is suspicion or disclosure of child abuse or neglect, the counsellor is obligated to report;
When records are subpoenaed by court order;
When the client gives permission to consult with other individuals as required.
Please note that if the client chooses to contact the counsellor via the internet (email; social media; text; etc) the counsellor is unable to guarantee confidentiality. Please keep all communications via these means limited to scheduling appointments. All other content is to be shared in person during the next session.
Collection and Storage of Personal Information
The counsellor will maintain records of our counselling session in compliance with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) guidelines. These are confidential (read terms of confidentiality above) and are contained in locked storage.
Social Media Policy
The Client is discouraged from contacting the Counsellor on any social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Messenger, etc.) as it may compromise confidentiality and may hinder the therapeutic healing process within sessions. The Counsellor is unable to accept requests and messages to connect over social media. Some shareable resources are available on our website and blog - Mind Over Matters, and public Instagram: @shivanesce.
Should there be a need for an online session for counselling, it will be conducted over video calling or phone call, with an attempt to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality possible. However, complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.