Confidentiality

All information, including discussions, notes, records and communications, is kept secure and confidential. Consent by you is required for communication with others, including receiving or providing information with other professionals. This can be verbal or written, however, it is my practice to obtain your signed consent when possible. There are a few exceptions to confidentiality:

If you are in danger of seriously hurting yourself, I will need to take action to ensure your safety.
If there is a danger that you will hurt someone else, I will need to inform that person and/or the police.
If I have reasonable grounds to suspect a child presently under the age of 16 is being abused or neglected, I will need to inform the appropriate authorities.
If a known sexual perpetrator is in close contact with a child under the age of 16, I will need to inform the appropriate authorities.
If I become aware of sexual abuse committed by another professional, I must report this to their professional College.
If I have reasonable grounds to suspect that an elder in a long-term care facility or retirement home is being abused or neglected or that their funds are being misappropriated.
If a case goes to court, my records may be subpoenaed by the courts.
If case files are randomly chosen for assessment by the College of Psychologists of Ontario or the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.

Any of these exceptions will be discussed with you, if possible, prior to disclosure to the appropriate authority.