Confidentiality Policy

1. Why confidentiality matters

Confidentiality is an important part of therapy. It means that what a client talks about in sessions is treated with care and respect.

We want you to feel safe to talk openly, without worrying that things will be shared unnecessarily or without good reason. This policy explains how confidentiality works, and the few situations where information might need to be shared.

2. What information is kept private?

We keep the following information private:

  • What you talk about in therapy sessions

  • Notes written by your psychologist

  • Letters or reports (if these are written)

  • Emails or messages you send to us

  • Your personal details, such as your contact information

This information is stored securely and is only seen by the psychologist involved in your care.

3. Confidentiality for adults

If you are 18 or over:

  • What you share in therapy is confidential

  • It will not be shared with anyone else unless you agree

This includes partners, family members, employers, and other professionals, unless you give permission or there is a serious concern about safety.

4. Confidentiality for children and young people

Young people aged 16 and 17 usually have the same rights to confidentiality as adults, unless there are safeguarding concerns.

Some young people under 16 are able to understand therapy well enough to consent to it themselves. This is called being Gillick competent.

If a young person is Gillick competent:

  • Sessions are confidential

  • Parents or carers will not automatically be told what is discussed

  • The young person usually decides what information is shared

We often encourage young people to talk with their parents or carers where this feels helpful and safe, but this is not forced unless there is a serious concern.

5. What parents and carers might be told

When working with children and young people, we try to balance:

  • A young person’s right to privacy

  • A parent or carer’s responsibility to keep them safe

Parents or carers may be given general information, such as:

  • Whether sessions are taking place

  • Broad themes or progress (where agreed)

  • Advice on how best to support their child

We would not usually share:

  • Exact details of what a young person says in sessions

  • Personal or sensitive disclosures

unless the young person agrees or there is a serious safety concern.

6. Supervision and professional support

Clinical psychologists regularly attend professional supervision to make sure their work is safe and effective.

In supervision:

  • Client work may be discussed

  • Names and identifying details are kept to a minimum

  • Supervisors are also bound by confidentiality

This is part of good professional practice and does not count as breaking confidentiality.

7. When confidentiality may need to be broken

There are a small number of situations where confidentiality cannot be kept.

a) Serious risk or safety concerns

If we believe that:

  • You or someone else is at serious risk of harm

  • A child or vulnerable person may be unsafe

we may need to share information with appropriate services, such as a GP, social care, or emergency services.

b) Safeguarding

We have a legal and professional duty to act if we are concerned about:

  • Abuse

  • Serious neglect

  • Exploitation

Where possible, we will try to talk with you before sharing information, unless doing so would make things less safe.

c) Legal reasons

Sometimes the law requires information to be shared, for example:

  • If a court orders the release of records

  • If there is a legal duty to provide information to authorities

8. Sharing information with your permission

With your clear agreement, we may share information with:

  • GPs or other health professionals

  • Schools or colleges

  • Local authorities

  • Other professionals involved in your care

You can usually:

  • Decide what is shared

  • Decide who it is shared with

  • Change your mind later

unless there is a legal or safeguarding reason that means information must still be shared.

9. Records and data protection

All records are:

  • Stored securely

  • Managed in line with UK data protection law

  • Kept only for as long as professionally required

More detailed information about how data is stored, used, and protected is explained in our Privacy Policy.

10. Questions or worries

If you are unsure about confidentiality, or something in this policy feels confusing or worrying, please ask.

Understanding confidentiality — and its limits — is an important part of feeling safe and informed in therapy.