Privacy & Confidentiality at BelongSpace Counselling
Confidentiality of personal health information is protected under Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and guided by the professional standards of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). At BelongSpace, therapy records and personal health information are never disclosed without written consent.
Exceptions to Confidentiality
a) When there is a suicidal threat with the intent to harm oneself and homicidal threats intending to harm another.
b) I understand that disclosure of a sexual relationship with a regulated health care professional would also be reportable.
c) When child abuse is disclosed, that includes sexual and physical abuse, neglect, or a child may be at risk in other ways, such as 1) exposure to domestic violence, 2) when an adult reports that they were sexually abused as a child and that the abuser might be a danger to a child now. When any form of abuse occurs to a child, a call is made to Family and Children Services.
d) In legal cases where the counsellor is mandated by the court to disclose information, which can happen in legal proceedings, and the file has been subpoenaed by the court and/or the counsellor is ordered to testify.
e) If I believe that a senior citizen living in a retirement or nursing home is being abused.
f) If you disclose sexual abuse by a regulated health care professional, I am required by law to report the individual to his/her/their regulatory body.
g) When clients give written permission by completing a ‘release of information consent form’ (for relationship/couples therapy, consent from all partners would be required).
For Couple/Relationship Therapy, please review the Couple/Relationship Therapy Policy and No Secret Policy.
