Confidentiality and Safety

Confidentiality is a fundamental part of psychological therapy. Feeling able to speak openly, without fear of judgement or unnecessary disclosure, is essential for therapy to be safe and effective. I take confidentiality seriously and work in line with HCPC, professional, and legal standards.

Everything you share in therapy is treated as confidential and will not be shared with others without your consent, except in specific circumstances where there is a legal or ethical duty to act in order to protect safety.

As with all Clinical Psychologists, I attend regular clinical supervision to reflect on my work and ensure the highest standard of care for my clients. Any material discussed in supervision is fully anonymised, and no identifying personal information is shared.

When confidentiality may be broken

There are limited situations in which I may need to share information without your consent. These include:

• Risk to yourself
  If I believe there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to you, I have a duty to act to help keep you safe.
• Risk to others
  If there is a credible risk that someone else may be harmed, I may need to share relevant information with appropriate services.
• Risk from others
  If there is reason to believe that you are at risk of serious harm from another person, particularly where safeguarding concerns are present, I may need to involve relevant agencies to help protect you.
• Legal requirements
  In rare circumstances, I may be legally required to disclose information (for example, by court order).

Wherever possible, I aim to discuss any concerns about safety or confidentiality with you first, so that we can think together about the most appropriate and supportive way forward.

Historical abuse and safeguarding

Discussions of historical abuse—particularly childhood abuse—are often complex and sensitive. Your experiences will be treated with care, respect, and compassion.

Confidentiality in relation to perpetrators of historical abuse can be complex. While therapy is not an investigative process, I have a legal and ethical duty to act if information suggests that an individual may currently present a risk to children or vulnerable people.

If such concerns arise, I will:

• Discuss this with you as openly as possible
• Explain my safeguarding responsibilities clearly
• Share only the minimum necessary information with appropriate services

My priority in these situations is safety, while remaining respectful and supportive of you throughout the process.

A trauma-informed approach to safety

Many people who come to therapy have experienced situations where power, control, or safety were taken away. I am committed to working in a way that is trauma-informed, transparent, and collaborative.

Confidentiality and safety are not in opposition—they work together to create a therapeutic space that is both trusting and protective.

If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality, safeguarding, or how information is handled, you are very welcome to discuss these with me at any point.