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Confidentiality and Boundaries

AIM:- To discuss the complexity of confidentiality in relation to counselling and the need for boundariesTo practice counselling skills in triads

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OBJECTIVES:-

• Discuss the term ‘confidentiality’ and where it might be applied

• Recognise the importance of confidentiality in a counselling context

• Identify where there might be limitations in confidentiality

• Identify the need for boundaries• Demonstrate counselling skills learned

so far

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Confidentiality in counselling

•Confidentiality is fundamentally important due to the intimate nature of the relationship•The Counselling relationship is based on trust

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There are some circumstances where client confidentiality cannot be kept

• Make this clear from the outset • Inform or negotiate with client prior to

giving information to another person• If possible, seek permission from the

client

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Possible circumstances are:-• If it is the policy of some agencies to keep

written record centrally• Supervision• Referral eg GP, psychiatrist, mental health

services, social services etc• Client intention to harm themselves or

commit suicide (at the counsellors discretion)• If the client discloses intention to harm

another• Disclosures of acts of terrorism / drug

trafficking• By order of civil / criminal court

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• Under such circumstances efforts will be made to minimise information disclosed by concealing client’s identity if possible. Eg. supervision, keeping reports locked up and always informing the client before any disclosure is made.

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Exercise

•In four small groups discuss and debate the exercise provided.

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Boundaries

• What do we mean by boundaries?• Boundaries can often help us with

issues of confidentiality in that we can inform our clients prior to the onset of counselling what the limits on offer might be.

• This makes it very clear about what is confidential and what is not ‘thus providing a boundary’

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What other boundaries may a counsellor need to consider?

•Time •Physical space •Information •Intimacy •Social roles

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Further reading

• COUNSELLING SKILLS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS by Philip Burnard

• LEGAL ISSUES IN COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY by Peter Jenkins

• AN INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELLING by John Mcleod

NGfL CYMRU GCaD

www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk

• AIM:- To discuss the complexity of confidentiality in relation to counselling and the need for boundaries

• OBJECTIVES:-• Discuss the term ‘confidentiality’ and

where it might be applied• Recognise the importance of

confidentiality in a counselling context• Identify where there might be limitations

in confidentiality• Identify the need for boundaries