Confidentiality statement:
Our professional ethics prevent us from telling anyone else what you tell us unless you give us written permission. There are some exceptions to this rule, where we have to break confidentiality or put limits on it. The following outline those exceptions:
A: When you or other persons are in physical and/or psychological danger, the law requires us to tell others about it to help protect.
B: In any of the following situations, we would reveal only the information that is needed to protect you or the other person. We would not tell everything you have told us.
1. In general, if you become involved in a court case or proceeding, you can prevent us from testifying in court about what you have told us. This is called “privilege,” and it is your choice to prevent us from testifying or to allow us to do so. However, there are some situations where a judge or court may require us to testify:
a) In child custody or adoption proceedings, where your fitness as a parent is questioned or in doubt.
b) In cases where your emotional or mental condition is important information for a court’s decision.
c) During a malpractice case or an investigation of us.
d)In a civil commitment hearing to decide if you will be admitted to or continued in a psychiatric hospital.
e) When you are seeing us for court-ordered evaluations or treatment. In this case, we need to discuss confidentiality fully, because you don’t have to tell us what you don’t want the court to find out through our report.
f) If you were sent to us for an evaluation by worker’s compensation or state/provincial covered disability, we will be sending our report to a representative of that agency and it can contain anything that you tell us.