Trust and confidentiality
Therapeutic work takes place in a space of trust. Everything you share during our meetings is confidential and stays between us. Below I describe how I approach confidentiality and where its limits lie.
What confidentiality means
The content of our sessions, the very fact that you are attending therapy, and any personal information you share are not disclosed to third parties without your explicit consent. This applies to family and friends as much as to employers and institutions.
When confidentiality has limits
There are rare situations in which professional ethics and the law require an exception. These are:
- when there is an immediate risk to your life or health;
- when there is a risk to the life or health of another person;
- where there are indications of abuse or of a child being at risk;
- upon an explicit court order.
Even in these cases, only the minimum necessary information is disclosed and, wherever possible, this is discussed with you beforehand.
Session notes
I keep brief professional notes that help me follow the process. They are stored securely, contain no unnecessary personal detail, and are not shared with third parties.
Supervision
As part of professional standards, my work goes through supervision — discussing cases with a more experienced colleague, which improves the quality of the therapy. In supervision, cases are presented anonymously, without any details by which you could be identified.
Online sessions
The same rules of confidentiality apply to online meetings. I recommend being in a room where you will not be overheard or interrupted, so that you can speak freely.
The therapeutic relationship
The therapeutic relationship is a professional one and differs from friendship. This boundary is not distance — it is what allows therapy to remain a safe space for you.
Questions
If anything written above raises questions, you are welcome to ask them at any time, including at our first meeting. Understanding these terms is part of your safety in the process.