About this resource
Clients need to know what stays private before they decide what to share. This handout explains confidentiality, the situations where a counsellor may need to share information, such as serious risk of harm, concerns about a child or a court order, and what clients can expect if that happens. It gives you a clear starting point for the conversation about informed consent.
Purpose
To explain confidentiality and its limits at the start of counselling, in plain language.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Counsellors and therapists. Also relevant for psychologists, social workers, youth workers.
Client or participant group: Adults and young people seeing a counsellor or therapist.
Practice setting: Counselling and therapy services, including private practice, schools and community services.
Suggested uses
- First session and informed consent
- Young people starting counselling
- Revisiting confidentiality before a difficult topic
Instructions for practitioners
- Go through it in the first session, and adapt it to your own service and state or territory.
- Check understanding and invite questions.
- Come back to it whenever needed, especially before a disclosure.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Read this before or during your first session.
- Ask about anything that is not clear.
Accessibility considerations
Use the person's own words. Offer an interpreter, a support person or a different format where it helps.
Scope and limitations
General information. It does not replace your service's consent form, professional code or legal advice. Rules differ by state and territory and by age.
Research basis
Australian privacy law allows personal information to be shared without consent where this is reasonably believed necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to someone's life, health or safety. Professional guidance asks counsellors to keep accurate records, explain the limits of confidentiality and seek advice.
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Australian Privacy Principles guidelines, Chapter C: Permitted general situations. https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/australian-privacy-principles-guidelines/chapter-c-permitted-general-situations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. Code of Ethics. https://pacfa.org.au/Portal/Prac-Res/Code-of-Ethics.aspx
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. Good practice guidelines. https://pacfa.org.au/portal/Portal/Prac-Res/Good-Practice-Guidelines.aspx
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced. Written for Practitioner Plus from the guidelines and research listed in the research basis; no third-party template was used.
