Informed consent and confidentiality are essential foundations for safe and effective therapeutic work. Informed consent honours the client’s autonomy and personhood—it ensures you are empowered to understand, ask questions, and make decisions about your care, knowing that therapy is something done with you, not to you. Confidentiality creates the secure emotional space needed for healing; when you know your story is held with care and protected boundaries, you are freer to explore your experience without fear or shame.

In my approach, therapy is a deeply relational process, and trust is central. Upholding clear ethical practices around consent and confidentiality supports not just legal and professional standards—it reflects the very heart of relational integrity, emotional safety, and mutual respect.

Therapy is a collaborative process designed to support personal, relational, and emotional growth. It may involve discussing difficult or distressing experiences and can lead to increased insight, emotional healing, and relational change. Sessions are typically 50–60 minutes in length, and frequency will be discussed together.

All information shared in therapy is kept confidential, and your privacy is respected and protected under ethical and legal guidelines. There are, however, some legal exceptions to confidentiality, which apply across all types of therapy:

• If there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else
• If there is disclosure of abuse or neglect of a child, vulnerable adult, or elder
• If records are subpoenaed by a court of law
• If you give written permission to release information

In individual therapy, what you share remains confidential. You may request that certain information be shared with a GP or another health provider, and this will only happen with your signed consent. You are encouraged to ask questions at any time about your privacy or the therapeutic process.

In couples therapy, confidentiality applies to the couple as a unit. I will not keep secrets from one partner if they relate directly to the relationship. If either partner shares something privately that is relevant to the shared work, I will work collaboratively with you to bring this into the joint space in a way that supports honesty, care, and the therapeutic process. If this is not possible, continuing therapy may be re-evaluated.

In family therapy, confidentiality is considered within the family system. While I aim to respect individual privacy, information shared by one member may be brought into family sessions if it is clinically relevant and supports the goals of therapy. If individual sessions occur, the same principle applies: privacy is balanced with the integrity of the whole family’s therapeutic work. For families with children or teens, consent and involvement will be discussed in line with legal requirements and the child’s age and capacity.

As a client (or family/couple), you are asked to:

• Arrive on time for sessions and provide notice if rescheduling is needed
• Participate openly and respectfully
• Communicate if you have any concerns about therapy
• Pay agreed-upon fees at the time of service unless otherwise arranged

As your therapist, I commit to:

• Providing a safe, confidential, and compassionate environment
• Using evidence-based practices to support your goals
• Respecting your pace and autonomy
• Discussing any concerns or changes in therapy openly

To support my ongoing development as a counsellor, some sessions may be audio or video recorded. These recordings are used strictly for the purposes of professional supervision and skills development.

All recordings are:

• Confidential and stored securely in password-protected, encrypted digital formats.
• Accessible only to myself, my approved clinical supervisor(s), and relevant academic staff (where required).
• Used solely for the purposes outlined above and are deleted after their use is complete or upon your request.
• Session notes and recordings are stored securely on an external hard drive and will be retained for seven (7) years after our final session, after which they will be permanently deleted.

Participation in recorded sessions is completely voluntary, and you may decline or withdraw consent at any time without affecting your access to counselling.

Find PDF below for more information on informed consent and confidentiality regarding recording of sessions for supervision.

For the purpose stated here, do you give your consent for the recordings of sessions (please circle): Yes / No

When engaging in counselling online, the following guidelines help create a safe and effective therapeutic environment:

• Suitable setup: Please ensure you have a reliable internet connection and device suitable for video calls.
• Camera use: Sessions are most effective when cameras remain on, allowing us to see and respond to each other fully.
• Private space: Choose a quiet, confidential space where you will not be overheard or interrupted. Headphones can help increase privacy.
• Phone availability: Keep a phone nearby in case technical issues or disconnections occur, so I can contact you to continue or reschedule.
• Emergency contact & address: I will need your current location and an emergency contact at the beginning of our work together, in case urgent support is required.
• Limitations of online counselling: Online sessions are not suitable for clients experiencing active suicidal thoughts or behaviours. In such cases, I will support you to access more appropriate in-person or crisis services.

I understand that life can sometimes be unpredictable, and there may be times when you need to reschedule or cancel a session. If this happens, I ask that you give at least 24 hours’ notice so I can offer the appointment time to someone else who may be waiting for support.

Because your appointment time is reserved especially for you, cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, will incur the full session fee. This policy helps me keep sessions sustainable and ensures that I can be available for all clients who need support.

Thank you for your understanding, and for valuing the time we set aside to do this work together.

For our work together to begin please download, sign and email the  PDF deeper together informed consent & confidentiality document below. Please read the PDF below for more information on informed consent and confidentiality regarding recording of sessions for supervision.

For our work together to begin please download, sign and email the  PDF deeper together informed consent & confidentiality document below. Please read the PDF below for more information on informed consent and confidentiality regarding recording of sessions for supervision.