Generally, yes.

What you share in counselling is treated as confidential, and your counsellor takes reasonable steps to protect your privacy and the information you provide.

There are some situations where information may need to be shared without your consent. Your counsellor will explain these limits with you when you begin counselling so you know what to expect.

There are situations where a counsellor may be required or permitted to share information without your consent.

Depending on the circumstances and where you are located, this can include serious concerns about someone's safety, situations where a child or other person may need protection, certain legal or court requirements, or other circumstances required by law or professional standards.

The specific requirements can vary across Canada. Your counsellor can explain the limits that apply to your situation and answer any questions you have.

Your counsellor keeps records as part of providing counselling.

These records may include information such as your contact details, notes about your counselling sessions, and other information needed to provide and manage your care.

Your records are handled and stored according to the privacy laws, professional standards, and other requirements that apply to your counsellor and where they practise.

You can ask your counsellor questions about your records, including how they are stored and how you can request access to your information.

Not simply because someone asks for it.

Your counsellor will generally need your consent before sharing your personal information with another person or service, such as a doctor, school, or other healthcare professional.

If information needs to be shared, your counsellor will talk with you about what is being shared, who will receive it, and why.

There are some situations where information may need to be shared without your consent because of legal or professional requirements.

We take the security and privacy of your personal information seriously.

Sholinder Counselling Collective uses Jane as our practice management and electronic health record platform. Jane uses security measures such as encryption and SOC 2 Type 2–certified data centres to help protect the information stored in its system. You can learn more about Jane's privacy and security practices.

We also have policies and procedures in place for things such as:

• How personal and counselling information is collected and used

• Who has access to client information

• How counselling records are maintained and stored

• How information is communicated electronically

• How information is shared with other people or professionals

• How privacy and security concerns are handled

Protecting your information is more than choosing a secure platform. It's also about how we use, access, communicate, and manage that information every day.

Because Sholinder Counselling Collective works with clients across Canada, the privacy requirements that apply can vary depending on where you and your counsellor are located and the circumstances of the counselling relationship. We'll provide you with the information relevant to your circumstances as part of the informed consent process.

If you have questions about how your information is stored, who can access it, or how we communicate with you, please ask. You deserve to understand how your information is handled before you begin sharing personal information with us.

Email, text messages, and website forms can be useful for arranging appointments and other practical communication, but they may not be completely secure or encrypted.

For that reason, please avoid sending sensitive or confidential information through these methods.

You don't need to explain what's happening in detail when you first reach out. A simple message asking about counselling or booking a consultation is enough.

Once you begin counselling, your counsellor can explain the appropriate ways to share more personal information.

Young people have privacy rights too.

The way confidentiality works for a young person can depend on their age, their ability to make decisions about their care, where they live, and the circumstances of the counselling relationship.

At the beginning of counselling, the counsellor will talk with the young person and their parent or caregiver about what confidentiality means, what information will be kept private, and when information may need to be shared.

The goal is to make sure everyone understands what to expect from the start.

Not necessarily.

Parents and caregivers can be an important part of supporting a young person, but that doesn't mean they automatically receive every detail discussed in counselling.

What can be shared depends on the young person's age and capacity, the circumstances, the role of the parent or caregiver, and the legal and professional requirements that apply.

Your counsellor can talk with you about how information will be shared and how parents or caregivers can be involved while still respecting the young person's privacy.

Young people may talk about things in counselling that they haven't discussed with their parents or caregivers.

That information is not automatically shared simply because the young person has told their counsellor.

There are limits to confidentiality, particularly when there are concerns about safety or when information must be shared by law.

When information does need to be shared, the counsellor will involve the young person in that process as much as possible and explain what needs to be shared and why.

This depends on your age, your ability to make decisions about your care, the type of counselling you're receiving, and the laws and professional requirements that apply where you live.

You can talk with your counsellor about what you would like your parent or caregiver to know and what you would prefer to keep private.

Your counsellor can explain what is possible in your situation before you share anything you're unsure about.

Counsellors have legal and professional responsibilities when they have concerns that a child or young person may be in need of protection.

The specific requirements differ across Canada.

This means that we cannot promise absolute confidentiality when information raises concerns that fall within applicable child protection legislation.

If a report needs to be made, we will involve the young person and family in the process as much as we reasonably can, while meeting our legal obligations.

Talking about suicidal thoughts, self-harm, abuse, substance use, or another difficult experience does not automatically mean that everything you've said will be shared with someone else.

We'll first work to understand what's happening and consider the circumstances and level of concern, while also explaining what we need to do if there are limits to confidentiality.

In some situations, a counsellor may have a legal or professional obligation to act.

If confidentiality needs to be limited, we'll explain what is happening and share only the information that is necessary whenever possible.

With young people, this may also include child protection obligations that vary by province.

It can be.

When counselling involves couples, families, or other groups, there is more than one person involved in the counselling relationship. This means confidentiality needs to be discussed a little differently than it is in individual counselling.

Your counsellor will explain how privacy and confidentiality will work at the beginning of the work, including how information shared individually with the counsellor will be handled.

This gives everyone a chance to ask questions and understand the expectations before counselling begins.

You can ask your counsellor to share information with another person or service, such as a doctor, school, healthcare provider, or other professional.

Your counsellor will talk with you about what information would be shared, who would receive it, and why it may be helpful.

Depending on the situation, your written consent may be required before information is shared.

You can ask questions before deciding whether you want information shared.

Please ask.

You don't need to understand privacy laws or professional standards before starting counselling. Your counsellor can explain how confidentiality works, what its limits are, and what happens with your information.

You can also ask questions if something changes or if you're unsure about whether information might be shared.

Privacy and confidentiality are part of informed consent. You shouldn't have to figure them out on your own.

Online counselling can make it easier to access support from where you are, but it also means there are a few things you can do to help protect your privacy.

When possible, choose a private place for your sessions and be aware of who may be able to hear you or see your screen.

Your counsellor will also take reasonable steps to protect your information on their end, including using appropriate technology and secure systems for counselling and record keeping.

If you have questions about the technology or platforms your counsellor uses, you can ask them.