Privacy and Confidentiality
Are your services private and confidential?
I highly value your privacy and confidentiality. Psychotherapy services are a very personal and private service, and everything you share me with me will be treated with the utmost respect and discretion. I have created a private space in my clinic where you can be assured that whatever you have to discuss will be kept in the strictest of confidence within the privacy of my office.
As a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario and the Canadian Psychological Association, my code of ethics and professional standards mandate that I am ethically and professionally bound to maintain strict confidentiality regarding personal health information . I will not release any information you have disclosed and will require your consent for release of information before any information will be released to a third party.
There are exceptions to this policy in situations in which, as a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, I am required by law or regulation to release information with or without your permission. These circumstances include:
If a client indicates that they are an imminent risk of physical harm to themselves or another person, I are required to intervene (e.g., contact police) in order to ensure the safety of those who might be at risk.
If there are grounds of apparent, suspected, or potential child abuse, or there is suspicion that a child may be in need of protection, I am required by law to report the alleged or potential offender to the Children’s Aid Society. The relevant legislation in the Province of Ontario requires that a report also be made if we have reasonable concerns that a child is witnessing ongoing abuse or domestic violence against another person.
If there are grounds of apparent, suspected, or potential elder abuse or neglect of a resident living in a long-term care facility or retirement home, I am required by law to report the suspected, alleged, or potential abuse or neglect to the Director of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
If a client reports sexual abuse by a registered health care professional (e.g., licensed physician, registered massage therapist), I am required by law to report the offence to the appropriate professional college.
If a court issues a subpoena for records or testimony, I do not have immunity from the requirement to present my knowledge about a client in court.
If the College of Psychologists of Ontario audits my practice, I have to comply and may be required to give controlled access of the client’s healthcare file to a member of the College.