Confidentiality in counselling
How is counselling confidential and private?
Counselling is confidential. This means that what students tell a counsellor during appointments stays between the individual student and the counsellor – unless the counsellor has reasons to be concerned about the student's safety or the safety of others.
Counsellors' Duty of Care
All our counsellors have what is called a Duty of Care towards all students. This means that the counsellor must put a student's safety and wellbeing first.
If the counsellor has serious concerns about a student's safety and wellbeing, the counsellor must share information with a parent or both parents.
The counsellor will also inform the Head of House and, in some cases, the tutor and Ms. Purves, the Child Protection Officer and Vice Principal of Guidance & Wellbeing. (Click to read more about people who are your supports at school.)
The School Counsellor/School Social Worker would normally speak to you first before sharing information with others.
Will my parents know if I attend counselling?
The counsellors at SIS are not obligated to inform parents or guardians if a student is attending counselling. If there are concerns about a student’s safety or the safety of others, however, the counsellor must contact parents/guardians. This is related to the Duty of Care, which was mentioned above.
All our counsellors know how important it is to students that there are people at school they can speak to, in confidence. Students want privacy, and our counsellors understand this. If a counsellor needs to contact parents/guardians, they do their best to involve the student in the process, and inform them ahead of time.
Sometimes it is helpful that you and the counsellor agree to share some information with your parents or your tutor/Head of House. This is because sharing information with them can get you the support you might need.
Will other students know if I attend counselling?
If you attend counselling, the counsellor will never share this information with another student. Counsellors at SIS do everything they can to protect your privacy, and the privacy of all students at SIS.
Since you are in a school, there are situations where other students may know that you are attending counselling (for example, if you leave a lesson to attend counselling, or if someone happens to see you enter a counselling room).
If you are worried about these situations, we encourage you to speak to the counsellor about it, or to your Tutor/HoH. That way, you can figure out how to feel less worried.
Remember that students across all year groups use the counselling services at SIS. There is no shame in talking to a counsellor. Rather, it is a sign of your ability to face your challenges head on. You are welcome to discuss any concerns about confidentiality with your Tutor, HoH, Ms. Purves or one of our counselling team members.
Will teachers know that I attend counselling?
If you attend counselling during a lesson, the counsellor will need to make sure that you are not counted as absent from class. Therefore, a brief email will automatically be sent to your subject teacher, Tutor and Head of House. The email simply states that you will be meeting the counsellor/social worker and it includes the time and date. No other details are included.
It is unlikely that teachers in general know that you are attending counselling. The counselling rooms themselves are as private as possible: The windows are tinted and/or have curtains, so other people will not see who is inside.
The Tutor and HoH are a part of every student’s core support network at SIS. Therefore, the counsellors will sometimes encourage the student to speak to their Tutor and HoH.
When there are concerns about a student’s safety, the counsellor may have to inform the HoH and Tutor that the student is attending counselling, or encourage the student to share this themselves. This is because the Tutor and HoH needs to know whether the student is getting support from a counsellor at school, or whether this needs to be arranged. The counsellor may also speak with Ms. Lucie Purves, the Child Protection Officer and Vice Principal of Guidance & Wellbeing. This is also so as to protect the student and make sure they have the support they need.
Does the counsellor take notes?
Yes, the counsellor takes notes from each counselling session. These notes are confidential, and it is your counsellor’s duty to store these securely. The notes are for the counsellor's eyes only.