CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY

Limits of Confidentiality:

The details of your access to services from Forouz Salari Counselling & Consultation Services are kept confidential, except under the following circumstances, wherein I may need to contact emergency services &/or the appropriate authorities for further support for you:

  • If it becomes apparent that you intend to do serious harm to yourself or another person, indicated by factors that may include a specific plan, access to the means &/or imminent intent to lethally harm yourself or others.

  • If I have reason to suspect that someone under the age of 18 is being harmed or neglected, witnessing violence &/or at risk of harm or neglect.

  • If I have reason to suspect that a vulnerable adult &/or older person (over the age of 65) are being harmed or neglected, or is at risk of harm or neglect.

  • If I have reason to suspect that a professional is engaging in professional misconduct or malpractice of any kind, including actions that may harm the people under the professional’s care or place them at risk of harm.

  • If a law enforcement agency legally requires Forouz Salari Counselling & Consultation Services to release your record of services, with a written subpoena.

 

Current Location for duration of Virtual Session:

In case of an emergency, I need to know where you are right for the duration of our sessions, so that I can send immediate help to you, if needed.

 

What happens if we run into each other in public…

  • In order to protect your privacy and confidentiality, I will not approach you or say “hello” to you, in public.

    • I will likely acknowledge you with a smile, if we happen to make eye contact.

  • If you see me with other people, in public please do not approach me, so that I can focus on my interactions with the people that I’m with and ensure that I protect your confidentiality as well.

  • If you see me on my own, in public, and would like to approach me, please be mindful of our surroundings and do not ask any questions or share any information with me that may compromise your privacy and confidentiality.

  • I will never follow any clients on social media, accept personal friend requests on social media, or respond to personal direct messages from clients on social media.

  • The best way to communicate with me, between sessions, is through the encrypted message feature of your client account.

    • When emailing me, please avoid sharing any private information, unless you are attaching a password-protected document.

 

Note-taking:

A summary of the themes discussed, suggestions made, resources &/or referrals made to you, and any other important details from each session, will be written and saved on your personal digital file OR your organization’s / professional team’s digital file on Owl Practice.

These notes will be digitally stored for 7 years, as a legal requirement. During this period, you may reach out to Forouz Salari Online Counselling & Consulting to request a copy of your record. Your records may also be subpoenaed by a law enforcement agency, during this period. After this period, the notes and your client account will be deleted and destroyed.

 

Forouz Salari’s independent & ongoing access to Clinical Consultation:

I meet on a monthly basis with a professional consultant (who is a queer woman-identified social worker with 30+ years experience) and other colleagues in the field, without mentioning any identifying details about my clients, as part of my ongoing professional development & growth, and to keep up with new & relevant resources & services for my clients.