Confidentiality Agreement

Confidentiality

All interactions which take place in the setting of therapy are considered confidential. This includes requests by telephone, all interactions with this counselor, any scheduling or appointment notes, all session content records and any progress notes that are taken during sessions. Counselor will not even verify presence in treatment without consent. Clients may choose to give permission in writing to release any or specific information about themselves to any person or agency that they designate.

Limits to this agreement

  1. In some legal proceedings a judge may issue a court order. This would require the counselor to testify in court.

  2. If the counselor learns of or believes that there is physical or sexual abuse or neglect of any person under 18 years of age. Counselor is a mandatory reporter and must report this information to county child protection services. (DCF Child and Family Services)

  3. If the counselor learns of or believes that an elderly person or disabled person is being abused or neglected, Counselor must file a report with the appropriate state agency that handles elder abuse (DCF Abuse Hotline).

  4. If the counselor learns of or believes that the client is threatening serious harm to another person, Counselor is obligated to report this. This can be in the form of telling the person who has threatened, contacting the police, or placing the client into involuntary hospitalization (Baker Act).

  5. If there is evidence that the client is a danger to themself and the counselor believes that the client is likely to kill themself, unless protective measure are taken, Counselor may be obligated to seek involuntary hospitalization for the client or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection

  6. There may be times when the counselor consults with outside sources about cases. In these cases, no personally identifiable information will be used to discuss this case. However, discussion topics will be used in order to ensure that the counselor is getting and giving the best assistance possible. The persons with whom cases are discussed are also legally bound to keep information confidential.