In general, the privacy of all communications between a client and a counsellor is protected by law and I can only release information about our work to others with your written permission. But there are a few exceptions (described below). In most legal proceedings, you have the right to prevent me from providing any information about your treatment. In some proceedings involving child custody and those in which your emotional condition is an important issue, a judge may order my testimony if he/she determines that the issues demand it. There are some situations in which I am legally obligated to act to protect others from harm, even if I must reveal some information about a patient’s treatment. For example, if I believe that a child, dependent elder, or disabled person is being abused, I may be required to file a report with the appropriate authorities. If I believe that a patient is threatening serious bodily harm to another, I may be required to take protective actions. These actions may include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalization for the patient. If the patient threatens to harm himself/herself, I may be obligated to seek hospitalization for him/her or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection. These situations have rarely occurred in my practice.

I may occasionally find it helpful to consult other professionals about a case. During a consultation, I will not reveal the identity of my patient. The consultant is also legally bound to keep the information confidential.

The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) in B.C, The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)Canada, and The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States require that I follow Privacy Practices for use and disclosure of Personal Information within their respective jurisdictions. Additional information on these requirements can be viewed at the following web pages:

PIPA: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/business/business-management/protecting-personal-information/pipa-guide.pdf
PIPEDA: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/for-individuals/
HIPAA: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html