Confidentiality and Ethics

Confidentiality

Sharing our innermost experiences with another person can be a very difficult thing, often calling for courage, and it is important to know that it is safe to do so. Living and working in the Highlands, I am acutely aware of what a 'small world' it can be and of how inter-linked people and communities are. I am therefore particularly mindful of the importance of working with great discretion. Counselling is strictly confidential which means that (apart from my own supervision, which is itself confidential) I do not speak with anyone else about my work, nor disclose with whom I am working. Please ask if you have any questions about my own supervision.

The only exception to this is my legal and ethical obligation to act 'in the public interest'. In Scots Law, and in most professional codes, this takes precedence over the individual's right to confidentiality. It relates most commonly to situations where there is good reason to believe that someone is causing, or is actively planning to cause, serious harm to themselves or others. In such circumstances I reserve the right to contact other professionals if I believe that is necessary. This would be in order to take the steps required to ensure as far as possible the safety of the person(s) concerned. I would aim to act as discreetly and minimally as possible. I would always inform clients of any action I was taking, ideally discussing things with them as part of an agreed plan. I would always seek their permission if at all possible. 

Professional Ethics

All good work with people must be based on sound ethical principles. I ground my work in those described in BACP's Ethical Framework for The Counselling Professions (2018)​. I also take into account COSCA's Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice. As my professional bodies, I am accountable to BACP and to COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) for abiding by their ethical principles. If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about my work, I invite and encourage you to raise them directly with me and I will give them my full attention. Such situations are sometimes described as 'therapeutic ruptures' and attending to them and their repair has the potential to be an important and fruitful part of therapy. If however for some reason this is not possible, or you are not satisfied with my response to you, I am subject to BACP Professional Conduct Procedures. Details about this and its complaints procedure can be accessed here.
The equivalent procedure through COSCA can be accessed here.

I have full professional indemnity and public liability insurance, through the Psychologists Protection Society.

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Data Protection

Since May 2018, any individual or organisation that handles personal information is required to comply with European General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). I am registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office and abide by this legislation. I will always ask your consent to keep any personal information about you, details about this can be found in  my Privacy Statement. Please ask me about this at any time. You can read more about the secure system I use for information storage here.

'People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be. When I look at a sunset, I don't find myself saying, "Soften the orange a bit on the right hand corner." I don't try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds.' 

Carl Rogers