Anything you say to a psychologist is confidential, and there are strict penalties for psychologists found to have breached this duty. However, this confidentiality is not absolute, and there are a number of specific situations in which confidentiality can be breached by the psychologist. These include:
- Immediate threat of harm to self or others.
- Court Subpoena
- Insurance companies can request information regarding your treatment, this information will only be provided with your written consent.
- Supervision / Second opinion – Under national law, registered psychologists are required to seek supervision from a colleague approximately once a month to discuss their practice. It is possible that some aspects of your treatment will be discussed with another psychologist.