Know Your Rights at ACT Center
Your Consent Matters at ACT
All our clients are required to sign a treatment contract, indicating their consent to treatment at the Center. It is an essential mutual agreement between the client and the therapist where the outline of the therapeutic work (& the therapeutic working alliance) is presented; this includes confidentiality agreement; location of and time/frequency of sessions; cancellation, rescheduling, and termination terms; record-keeping policies, goals of therapy; and responsibilities of both parties.
During your first session, your therapist will verbally discuss the important points of the agreement, explain various aspects of therapy and the initial therapeutic plan, clarify any points, and answer any questions you may have- it is considered a transparent basis for informed consent. You will be given time to read and sign it before the end of your first session.
Our treatment contract ensures that therapy will be performed in an ethical, professional, and safe manner- highlighting the responsibilities of the therapist towards their clients and vice versa. A clear and detailed contract, that is verbally discussed and read, is one of the key factors in successful outcomes of therapy.
Consent in the case of minors (children and adolescents below 18 years):
The therapeutic contract needs to be signed by the client’s guardian and their written consent obtained during the initial intake, yet it is also discussed in the first session with the client themselves, and some therapists create a special contract with minors to enable the therapeutic relationship to form early, and activate a sense of autonomy, responsibility, and accountability in the client.
Confidentiality – Your Privacy is Our Priority
It is your fundamental right to have your data protected and your privacy maintained at all costs. At ACT, confidentiality is a vital part of our code of ethics- setting the framework for effective therapy where clients can be fully open and honest. Confidentiality is explained by your clinician at the beginning of your first session or intake, as well as what the exceptions to the rule are. Confidentiality includes not just the contents of therapy, but often the fact that a client is in therapy; for example, your therapist will discuss with you whether you would like to be acknowledged if they run into you outside of therapy. It also includes not leaving revealing information in a voice note or text, not acknowledging to outside parties that a client has an appointment unless there is a prior agreement to do so, and not discussing the contents of therapy with a third party without your explicit permission.
A signed consent form, ‘Release of Information, is obtained from the client for the release of pertinent information by the therapist only when deemed necessary for the optimum treatment outcome, and only to parties specifically approved and named by the client/their guardian, e.g. another therapist, doctor, school, family member, lawyer, courts of law, etc.
Exceptions to Confidentiality Agreement
There are certain circumstances where confidentiality is broken after careful consideration, these exceptions are explained in detail by your clinician during the first session, they include:
- Harm to self or others: If the therapist believes that the client is at risk of harming themselves or others, especially in the cases of an imminent suicide attempt, the therapist is required to break confidentiality- both ethically and legally. It is important to note that your therapist will not automatically break confidentiality if a client only reports thoughts about suicide or harm to self or others- the client will be evaluated for an intent to act on those thoughts and whether they have a specific plan before confidentiality is breached or hospitalization is considered.
“Clinicians only disclose private information without consent in order to protect the client or the public from serious harm.”
- Ongoing abuse, harm, or neglect: In a large majority of cases where abuse is involved, the therapist has a definitive responsibility to their client- both legally and ethically- to take action. If there is an imminent threat to a client’s life or of them suffering severe harm, the clinician is required to break confidentiality immediately and notify the appropriate authorities. Clinicians are also required to constantly evaluate a client’s circumstances and report ongoing domestic violence, abuse, or neglect of children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. Breaks in confidentiality occur only when the therapist has determined that the consequences are more beneficial for the client than the current situation of the client. In many cases, the therapist will discuss the break of confidentiality with the client before it occurs.
Please note: if an adult client discloses that they were abused as a child, the therapist is not bound to report that abuse, unless there are other children continuing to be abused and action is necessary.
- Court Ordered: Clinicians may release information if they receive a court order to do so, which may happen in custody cases, cases of abuse, or where a client’s mental health came into question during legal proceedings.
- Minors: Guardians have a right to certain client information if they are below 18 years of age, where deemed necessary. These details can be further discussed with the treating therapist, the client, and their guardian prior to the beginning of therapy.
What Information can a Client Share about their Treatment?
While confidentiality and privacy are your rights as a client, you are free to tell your family and friends that you are seeing a therapist or are in therapy. How much information you would like to share is up to you, while your therapist remains ethically bound to protect your privacy regardless of what information you have chosen to share.
There are occasions where your therapist may find it beneficial to discuss your concerns or behaviors with other people in your life, always after it is carefully considered with you in your sessions and explicit permission is obtained (e.g. interview: a family member to better understanding home circumstances, teachers of a child who is having trouble at school).
If you have any concerns or questions about confidentiality or what information your clinician is legally required to disclose, feel free to discuss it anytime with your treating therapist or with the Clinical Supervisor. At ACT we strive to protect your rights and your overall safety and wellbeing.
Client Rights at ACT
- You have a right to be treated with dignity and respect- Our clients are our greatest responsibility. From intake to termination of therapy, you have the right to be treated in a fair, legally, and ethically appropriate manner at all times.
- You have a right to receive clinically appropriate care and treatment that is suited to your specific needs and skillfully, safely, and humanely administered with full respect for your personal integrity. All our therapists are highly qualified clinicians, who work under a strict code of ethics, with years of clinical experience, to ensure the best level of professional care while maintaining the highest regard for every single client.
- You have a right to be treated by staff who are sensitive to everyone’s backgrounds.
No matter what your culture, race, religion, financial situation, handicap or personal background are, – you should expect to be treated with consideration and honor by all ACT Center staff and clinicians, from your initial phone call or email to every in-person experience. - You have a right to receive an explanation of services:
The therapist should describe how therapy works in general, as well as their personal modality of therapy, their specific way of working with clients and answer any questions you may have. - You have a right to participate voluntarily in and to consent to treatment, in addition to being a part of developing your own treatment plan:
You are at ACT voluntarily, and should fully understand and give verbal and written consent to all treatment provided to you- whilst also participating in the development and direction of your therapeutic plan to ensure you are an active participant in your future; with the desired goals and objectives clearly stated and regularly reviewed. You should always feel a sense of control and ownership of your therapeutic journey. - You have a right to be treated in a manner that is ethical and free from abuse, discrimination, mistreatment, and/or exploitation. Your story should never be used in any arena other than a clinical one. Your therapist should never attempt to leverage the therapeutic relationship in an inappropriate manner- not romantically, sexually, nor for any personal benefit. You have the right to feel safe and respected during your entire time at ACT; to be fully accepted, and never judged nor mistreated in any way.
- You have a right to be afforded privacy and to have your records protected by confidentiality
Your personal information and session content is private and confidential and will not be overheard by nor shared with others. You are entitled to confidential treatment by your therapist, meaning that your therapist cannot talk about your case without your written consent (except to professionally consult colleagues or their clinical supervisor- without sharing identifying information- this will be explained in your first session when confidentiality is discussed). - You have a right to be free to report grievances regarding services or staff to a supervisor.
You can report any issue you have to the Center’s Customer Care, Clinical Supervisor, or Office Manager. We care about every aspect of your treatment and your entire experience at ACT. - You have a right to be informed of the expected results of all therapeutic modalities or medications prescribed. Psychiatrists should go through the list of common adverse effects of any medications they prescribe, in addition to how they are meant to improve your symptoms. The various psychotherapeutic modalities should be explained to you by your clinician, or during an initial free consultation, as well as the results and efficacy of each outlined, before the onset of treatment.
- You have a right to request a change in a therapist.
Sometimes the therapeutic alliance is just not working, or a client requires a different modality or style. At ACT, our mission is to ensure that you are matched with the ideal therapist to suit your needs and who can best help with your presenting issues. You have a right to inform your therapist if you don’t feel comfortable, are not developing the right therapeutic relationship, or whatever reason you feel you would like to change therapists- and your therapist will willingly discuss your reasons within the therapeutic framework, reflect on your work together so far, and help refer you to a different clinician. - You have a right to object to or terminate treatment.
There are no obvious repercussions to challenging or terminating your treatment, however, we would strongly advise that you discuss all issues with your therapist, as often clients can feel like running away when the therapy feels uncomfortable when difficult topics are broached, or as a means of unconscious self-sabotage. Abrupt termination is especially ill-advised. For the most successful outcomes of therapy, you should feel able to be fully transparent with your therapist and discuss all your thoughts and feelings- which often have an important place within the therapeutic framework. - If you have any complaint with a service, kindly reach out to us.
Your Responsibilities as a Client
You are the main focus of the therapeutic process. Please ensure that you have read all forms carefully and fully, and asked for any needed clarifications. It is your right and your responsibility should you have any concerns, to voice and discuss them with your therapist, customer care, or a supervisor.
ACT clinicians and staff are always delighted to welcome you into our ACT family and provide you with the best treatment and interventions for your well-being, healing, growth, and development.
Contacting the Therapist Outside of the Session
- You should discuss with your therapist who to contact in the event of an emergency: determine your emergency family member or friend contacts, possible helplines, an on-call psychiatrist, specific hospitals, etc. Your therapist is there to support you and give you the tools you need outside of and between sessions. If you think you might need additional support or scaffolding outside of therapy, please let your therapist know so an additional plan of support can be worked out.
- In the event that you would like to share something with your therapist outside of the session, do ask your therapist to provide you with their preferred way of communication- e.g. email or text, as well as what their expected reply time will be, or if they will respond on weekends. Clinicians have diverse ways of working and distinct preferences to being contacted outside of sessions- this discussion is usually a part of the therapeutic agreement during the initial session (please make sure we add a note to include this point as part of our comprehensive therapeutic contract). It is discouraged to obtain a therapist’s personal contact information without them volunteering it or giving permission, and sending them messages on social media may feel like an invasion of their personal space- however, do feel free to discuss it with your therapist beforehand.
Therapy Termination
Planned termination or the end of therapy occurs when the therapist and client agree that the therapeutic goals have been met and that the client’s well-being and overall functioning have improved to the extent that the client no longer needs to be in therapy. It can be a positive experience with a long-term impact on both the client and therapist- one that starts long before the final session when the client and therapist begin to consider and highlight all the growth and development the client has undergone over the course of their journey together.
From the very first session, therapy is usually defined as a time-limited process: for some, it is short-term over 6-12 sessions, while for others it can take place over years- depending on each client’s unique presenting problems, history, ongoing personal circumstances, and their shifting priorities and concerns, as well goals and desired outcomes. Therapy can cease straight from weekly sessions to no sessions, or for certain clients who need scaffolding, sessions can go bi-monthly, then monthly, etc. The most fitting formula will be jointly decided upon by the client and their therapist.
Termination may also take place for a variety of other reasons: if the therapeutic goals are not being met, if it is determined that progress is not being made, client avoidance or resistance, financial reasons, relocation of client or therapist, lack of support from family members, etc. Whatever the reason, it should be discussed in detail between the therapist and client, and available options considered before any decision is taken. We believe that in the case of unplanned, unexpected, or undesired termination, it is our duty at ACT to do our utmost to help our clients take the most appropriate next step, or refer them to another clinician, be it at ACT, in the same city, or abroad where necessary.
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