Informed Consent
Patients of Inspire Health requesting counselling services have the right to Informed Consent; that is, your full and active participation in decisions which affect you and your freedom of choice based on the information shared. Your counsellor respects your right to ongoing informed consent at the outset of the therapeutic relationship and during the course of this relationship. You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.
When it comes to the direction and goals of your therapy, you are the primary decision maker. You have the right to accept or reject any task, exercise, or procedure suggested by your counsellor, and to be informed of the risks, benefits, rationale for, alternatives to and interpretations of any and all counselling interventions.
Confidentiality
Protecting your confidentiality and privacy is of utmost importance at InspireHealth. The standards of professional counselling practice in British Columbia consider the personal information you discuss in counselling to be confidential. No information will be released to any party outside of InspireHealth without your prior expressed authorization.
However, there are situations where professional counsellors are legally required to release personal information and your counsellor will need to contact the appropriate authorities to ensure everyone’s safety:
- If you indicate being at clear and immediate risk to harm yourself or others.
- When a child or a vulnerable adult is in need of protection (by law, a minor is anyone under to the age of 19).
- Additionally, if your counsellor is subpoenaed, they may be legally obligated to provide testimony in court or surrender your file.
Your counsellor’s primary goal is to make your sessions as comfortable as possible to talk about personal matters, while fully apprising you of the legal and ethical parameters of the counselling relationship. Confidentiality is essential to the counseling relationship and something your counsellor honours with utmost respect.
Confidentiality and Telemedicine
Confidentiality and Telemedicine
Confidentiality for TELUS Business Connect or telephone counselling may be limited on the end of the patient. The counsellor assures that they are holding the counselling sessions in a secure and private setting. However, the counsellor cannot assure the environment of the patient and, therefore, it is the patient’s responsibility to assure they are in a private and secure setting for their TELUS Business Connect or telephone counselling sessions. We use TELUS Business Connect which is both PIPEDA and PHIPA compliant.
Patient Records
The counsellor records patient session notes in a secure electronic medical records system, which is encrypted and only accessible by InspireHealth clinical staff. Any paper documents will be kept in a locked and secure location. The counsellor recognizes the right of the patient to access all relevant records which are generated in the counselling relationship. Your counsellor may choose to consult with a professional colleague about you, and where possible will do so with your informed consent. In consultation, your identity is protected and the consultant is not placed in a conflict of interest position.
Counselling Sessions
InspireHealth offers one to six counselling sessions per patient unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Scope of Practice
In circumstances where the therapeutic needs of the patient extend beyond the boundaries of appropriate support by the InspireHealth Counsellor, the patient will be provided with referrals to other Clinical Counsellors or agencies.
Appointment Policy
For counselling to be most effective it is beneficial if the patient arrives to the session in a timely manner and as present as possible for their sessions.
We understand that situations arise where you may need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Please cancel your appointment at least 24 hours before it is scheduled so that your appointment time can be used for another patient in need. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevented you from cancelling your appointment, please inform us of this as soon as possible. Reminder calls are made 3-4 days in advance of your appointment.
