Counselling Consent and Confidentiality

Registered Counselling Therapists (RCT) in Nova Scotia are regulated by the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT).  The NSCCT has adopted the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

By law and professional ethics, your counselling sessions are strictly confidential. Generally, no counselling therapy information will be shared with anyone without your written permission. If you are seeing another therapist or health professional it may be necessary for me to contact that person so that we can coordinate our efforts. If this is necessary I will ask for your permission. There are however, a number of exceptions to this confidentiality policy.

• If I am ordered by the court to testify or release records.

• If you are a victim or perpetrator of child abuse I am required by law to report this to the authorities responsible for investigating child abuse.

• If you are a victim or perpetrator of elder or dependent adult abuse I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities.

• If you threaten harm to yourself, someone else or the property of others, I may be required to call the police and/or warn the potential victim, or take other reasonable steps to prevent the threatened harm.

Informed consent involves the communication of any information which matters to the client which is pertinent to the counselling relationship.