Therapeutic Confidentiality and Conduct

Confidentiality and Safeguarding: An important aspect of working in therapy is your right for the work to be confidential. Information revealed by you in a session will not be revealed to any other person or agency, without your permission, with the following exceptions:

  • I am legally required to receive clinical Art Therapy supervision to support my work on your behalf. At all times, shared information and artwork will be anonymised. 

  • If I believe that you are at risk of harm, or there is a risk of harm to others, I am legally required to report this to a relevant organisation. If possible, I will try to discuss this with you first.  

  • If I am required by law, to disclose aspects of our work together

Data & Artwork Protection: I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office - https://ico.org.uk  and comply with their guidance around data protection and keeping personal data.

  • The personal data that I collect from you, is your name, date of birth, address, email and contact numbers and your GP’s details as well as information obtained in our initial consultation if therapy is going ahead. 

  • In line with the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) guidelines, I am required to keep brief written records of each therapy session which will also be securely, digitally stored in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

  • I will communicate with you in whichever method you prefer and you will have my work email address to communicate with me.

  • During the course of our work, if I become ill and unable to contact you, I will share your name and number with my professional executor who would contact you, in line with best practice. 

  • Artwork is kept secure by myself through the therapy period and you will have access to your work to continue with or view throughout the therapy period.

  • When our sessions end it is your decision as to whether to take your artwork away or if you want me to dispose of it. Any photographs of your artwork will be securely, digitally stored and deleted once therapy ends. 

Health and Safety: You are encouraged but not obliged to provide any health information that you think it might be helpful for me to be aware of such as medication, and details of any health professional you are under the care of for such circumstances as becoming unwell during a session. 

Complaints and Standards: I follow the HCPC’s Ethical Framework and the British Association of Art Therapists Code of Ethics. I am committed to providing a safe and compassionate service in which I seek to meet the needs of my clients. However, If you are unhappy with any aspect of my work, I would ask that you raise this directly with me in the first instance. If you feel you have encountered an issue that questions my fitness to practice, you can raise a concern with the HCPC directly,  https://www.hcpc-uk.org/concerns/ who will be able to offer you impartial advice.