ETHICS

Psychological therapy can often involve discussing matters which are distressing, uncomfortable, sensitive and private. It can therefore be reassuring to know that our psychologists respect the need for confidentiality and are bound by the codes of ethics and practice of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Copies of these codes can be obtained from these bodies.

As psychologists, we are required to have regular supervision of our work in order to ensure the best quality of our work. Supervision is undertaken with an experienced colleague who also understands the need for confidentiality and is bound by a code of ethics. This means that any details that are shared will remain confidential. The only exceptions to this are when we suspect that someone is at risk of serious harm, when the law requires it, if therapy is funded through an insurance company, or similar scheme, and they require a report. In these situations, the implications of this can be discussed.