All therapists are bound by principles of strict confidentiality. Which means what you discuss with me during your assessment or treatment is confidential and will not be released to anyone without your implied or expressed consent. When you require information to be disclosed to someone I will ask for your express consent to do this, usually in writing.
Ontario law, however, obliges me to break confidentiality and act without the consent of a patient in the following situations:
1- You are assessed to be in immediate danger of harming yourself, then I am required to take action to protect your life. This may involve notifying family members, a family physician, or a justice of the peace.
2- If, during the course of your assessment or treatment, you are assessed to be at risk for seriously injuring another person, then I am required to alert the intended victim and to notify the police.
3- If you report past or ongoing sexual abuse by any regulated health professional (e.g. another psychologist, physician, nurse, dentist, chiropractor) I am required to report this to the appropriate College. In such cases, the College will request the patient’s name be disclosed, but it is not mandatory that your name be given.
4- If there is reason to believe you are abusing a child, then I am required to notify the Children’s Aid Society (CAS.)
5- If the Court subpoenas your psychological records, then I am required to provide them to the Court.
If you are unclear about any of these exceptions, please contact me, and I would be happy to clarify them for you.
