• giftedstudio

In the first counselling session, you must have heard the counsellor say to you, 'What you say here will be kept confidential.' But what if we told you that confidentiality is not 100% guaranteed?

Confidentiality is the foundation of the therapeutic relationship, because they create a truly safe and trustworthy psychological space for you — however, it is also important to understand the limits of confidentiality in counselling.

While we strive to protect your privacy, there are rare circumstances where our counsellors may need to breach this confidentiality in order to prevent harm to you or others around you. This is certainly not a decision made lightly, but is based on our ethical obligations as mental health professionals.

In 1969, in the United States, 20-year-old Tatiana Tarasoff was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, and this tragic case serves as a sobering example of the importance of confidentiality agreements. At the time, she was in the process of breaking up with her boyfriend. The boyfriend's counsellor learned during the counselling sessions of his intention to kill her but failed to intervene due to the existing system at that time. Had Tatiana received timely notification from the police, she could have avoided her ex-boyfriend and prevented the tragedy.

Afterward, the United States enacted the "Tarasoff Laws," which required counsellors to prioritize safety and warn relevant parties when a client poses a clear and imminent danger. This practice has since been applied in other places, and related mechanisms have also been gradually adjusted.

At The Gifted Studio, we always strive to maintain your trust. However, if our counsellors believe that you or others are at serious risk of harm, we may need to contact your emergency contacts, hospitalize you, or report the situation to the appropriate authorities. Our goal is to ensure everyone's safety while supporting and protecting you on your journey of healing and growth. If you have concerns about confidentiality, you can discuss the boundaries of confidentiality with our counsellors.

If you have just broken up with your partner, would you want your ex-partner's therapist to breach confidentiality and issue a safety warning to you?