Couples and Family Counselling - No Secrets Policy

Serene Solutions

Purpose of This Policy

Couples and family counselling involves working with multiple individuals within a relationship or family system. The therapeutic process relies on openness, trust, and fairness between participants.

To support a transparent and balanced therapeutic environment, Serene Solutions operates under a No Secrets Policy for all couples and family counselling sessions.

This policy helps ensure that the counselling process remains constructive and that the therapist is able to work ethically and effectively with all participants.

What the No Secrets Policy Means

In couples or family counselling, the therapist works with the relationship system as a whole, rather than representing or advocating for one individual. If a participant shares information with the therapist outside of the joint session, such as through email, phone calls, or individual meetings, the therapist cannot agree to keep that information permanently confidential from the other participants if it is relevant to the counselling process. Where information shared privately may significantly impact the relationship or therapeutic work, the therapist may encourage or support the participant to bring this information into the joint session, or may address it in session in a clinically appropriate way.

The therapist cannot act as a holder of secrets between partners or family members when those secrets directly affect the relationship dynamics being explored in therapy.

Communication Outside of Sessions

Participants are welcome to contact the therapist between sessions to:

• clarify administrative matters
• provide relevant updates
• raise concerns about upcoming sessions
• share reflections related to the counselling process

However, it is important to understand that communications with the therapist may be considered part of the therapeutic record and may be addressed within the counselling process when appropriate.

Individual Conversations With the Therapist

In some situations, the therapist may recommend brief individual discussions with a participant to better understand their perspective or to support the therapeutic process. These discussions are intended to support the overall relationship work, not to create a separate confidential therapeutic relationship with one person. For this reason, the No Secrets Policy still applies. Information that is considered relevant to the counselling process may need to be addressed within the joint session. Where possible, participants will be encouraged and supported to share important information directly within the counselling space.

Therapist Neutrality

During couples and family counselling, the therapist’s role is to support the health and functioning of the relationship or family system as a whole. The therapist does not take sides, act as a judge, or advocate for one individual participant over another. Maintaining transparency within the counselling process helps the therapist remain neutral and supports a fair therapeutic environment for all participants.

Situations Where Information May Need to Be Shared

Information shared privately with the therapist may need to be brought into the counselling process if it relates to matters such as:

• the safety or well-being of a participant
• significant relationship issues that affect the therapeutic work
• disclosures that directly impact the counselling process
• information that may influence the participation or decision-making of others in the relationship

The therapist will aim to introduce such matters in a respectful, careful, and clinically appropriate manner.

Limits of Confidentiality

As with all counselling services, confidentiality has legal and ethical limits. Information may need to be disclosed if there are concerns relating to:

• risk of harm to self or others
• abuse or neglect of a child
• serious threats to the safety of another person
• legal obligations such as court orders or subpoenas

These limits are explained in the Serene Solutions Confidentiality and Consent policies.