Full Life Therapy Counselling & Support Services, 3 Denny Street, Tralee

Confidentiality and Limits to Confidentiality

Full Life Therapy works in accordance with CORU, IACP, IAHIP, IAAAC, or IASW & NAPCP Codes of Ethics and follows Children First Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children.

At Full Life Therapy, discretion and confidentiality are our utmost priorities. Any information that you share will be kept strictly confidential, except in the following circumstances:

• There is a danger of a client being harmed or causing harm to self or others.

• A child is at risk of abuse or there is unreported child sex abuse where the abuser is still alive.

• Ongoing criminal activity

• The therapist is subpoenaed by a court of law.

Should a third party need to be informed, where possible this will first be discussed with the client.

ADDENDUM

Data Privacy Statement in Compliance with General Data Protection Regulation-(GDPR) from May 25, 2018

How will your information be used?

Confidentiality is of primary concern to us and to help maintain confidentiality about you, we will use a pseudonym or initials only on documentation we hold. Your counsellor will keep confidential session notes while you are attending our service. In addition to the information recorded on the Full Life Therapy ‘Intake Form’ which is used to identify you, assess your suitability for counselling and is a record of your consent for same.

What is the Legal Basis for this and How Long Will Your Information be retained?             

We retain your Data (information) for legal reasons such as requirements set down by our insurers and to respond to potential disputes and complaints. Your data is retained for a period of 6 years after the end of the therapy relationship.

What Are Your Rights Under the GDPR?

You have a right to access a copy of these should you so wish. You also have the right to request amendments or deletion of information held about you under the General Data Protection Regulations (revised May 2018). However, it is our policy to retain a copy of client information and case notes for 6 years after your relationship with your counsellor ends. The legal basis for this is twofold:

1. It is directed by our insurers and

2. It would also be referred to in the event of any complaints or disputes that may arise, legal or otherwise as our record of the client relationship. You may request a copy of any information pertaining to you that is held on file within Full Life Therapy and we will respond to requests within 40 calendar days as per the legislation.

What Are Limitations of Confidentiality in the Contract You Make with Your Counsellor?

There are some exceptional circumstances where we may have to break confidentiality such as where there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, especially a child. Breaking confidentiality may entail us contacting the Gardaí, your doctor or medical physician or your next of kin depending on the circumstances and risks that are identified. Under the Children’s First Bill 2012 and Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons 2012, your counsellor at Full Life Therapy has a statutory obligation to report a concern of child abuse to TUSLA or the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

Your Counsellor/Therapist at Full Life Therapy is obliged to attend mandatory clinical supervision in which support and guidance is provided for their clinical caseload. Within this process no identifying client information is given and pseudonyms are used to ensure confidentiality.

Please Note: Full Life Therapy Therapeutic Services does not provide reports for court purposes or to resolve personal medical or legal disputes that you may be engaged in unless there is a subpoena by the Court.