Introduction
The client-therapist relationship is the foundation of psychotherapy and is central to the provision of safe, effective and ethical care. Registrants are expected to conduct themselves professionally at all times, and to place client wellbeing at the forefront of the relationship.
Clients come to therapists with sensitive personal information, and must be able to trust their therapist with this information. It is the professional and legal responsibility of the registrant to ensure that client information is kept confidential, subject to the legal limits to confidentiality.
Registrants must obtain informed consent before working with a client, and must ensure that therapy is undertaken only if it is necessary or can be expected to benefit the client.
Clients sometimes look to their therapists to work in cooperation with their other health care providers. Registrants are expected to communicate with other health professionals who are treating and caring for their client, where the client consents to such sharing of information, and when such communication is necessary and is done in the client’s best interests.
In addition, registrants must ensure that clients are informed of their right to make a complaint to the College regarding a registrant’s professional conduct, and also, where to take such a complaint.