All therapy sessions are confidential. However, there are some limits to this:
- Psychotherapists regularly present their work in clinical supervision. The aim of this is to monitor and improve the clinical work undertaken. All supervision is done on a confidential basis and only using the client's first name.
- If necessary the psychotherapist may need to contact the client's GP or other professional involved. This would normally be done with the client's consent, and would be discussed in the session prior to any contact. However, if the client or another person's safety were severely jeopardised in the practitioners view, they may contact the external services without the client's consent.
- There are some limits to confidentiality such as Prevention of terrorism and Drug Trafficking Acts.
- In a court of law a psychotherapist may be required to submit a report or answer questions about the client.
Records - all written case notes will be kept secure for a number of years as required by insurance cover and the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).