Safeguarding

Everyone has the right to be safe from harm. As a psychotherapist I have a responsibility to help protect adults at risk, children and young people, from abuse, neglect and exploitation. This statement explains that responsibility: what I would do if a concern arose in our work, and who you can contact if you have a concern of your own.

Who this covers

I work with adults. Most safeguarding concerns in my practice would relate to an adult at risk — someone who, through illness, disability or circumstance, may be less able to protect themselves. But a concern can also involve a child or young person: for example, if something you told me suggested a child or young person was being harmed. My responsibility extends to both.

When I might act

I treat what you tell me as confidential. There are a small number of situations where I might need to share information to keep someone safe: where I believe there is an imminent risk of serious harm to you or to another person, or where I believe a child or an adult at risk is being abused or neglected. These grounds are also set out in your therapy agreement and privacy notice. This statement explains how they apply to safeguarding.

What I would do

Wherever it is safe and possible, I would talk to you first — about my concern, what I was thinking of doing, and why. Were I to break confidentiality, I would share only the minimum information necessary, and only with those who needed it: this might be your GP, a local authority safeguarding team, or the emergency services. In the rare case where speaking to you first would increase the risk to someone, I might need to act without telling you in advance; if so, I would endeavour to explain my reasoning to you afterwards, where it was safe to do so.

If you have a concern

If you are worried about your own safety or someone else’s, please tell me and we can talk about it together. You do not have to wait for me to raise the issue. If you have a concern about my conduct or the service I provide, you should feel free to raise it with me directly. If you would rather not discuss it with me or believe that we cannot resolve the issue, you can raise the issue with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA).

See also my privacy notice, my crisis page if you need urgent support, and how to contact me.

Last updated: 8 September 2026.