Counselling Relationship and Client Rights

Counselling is a professional relationship with defined rights and responsibilities for both the counsellor and the client. These boundaries help create a safe, respectful, and supportive space for personal growth and change. The counselling process exists for your benefit and well-being, and it is important that you understand your rights, as well as the limits to those rights.
You may end counselling at any time. If you are considering doing so, you are encouraged to discuss this with your counsellor as early as possible. Where feasible, a planned termination is recommended to review progress, address unresolved concerns, and bring the counselling relationship to a healthy close.
If at any point you believe that your counsellor is not the right counsellor for you, you are encouraged to raise this concern. If the matter cannot be resolved, you will be assisted in finding an alternative suitable counsellor.
By signing this document, you enter into a legally binding agreement between counsellor and counselee. You may revoke this agreement in writing at any time, subject to actions already taken in reliance on it.

Your Rights as a Counselee

As a counselee, you have the right to:
  • Receive clear information about the counselling process and expectations
  • Participate actively in decisions about your counselling goals and process
  • Decline or withdraw consent for counselling at any time
  • Request referrals to another professional if needed
  • Have your personal information handled confidentially, within legal and ethical limits

Counselling Services
Counselling may help improve relationships, bring clarity to personal challenges, and reduce emotional or spiritual distress. However, outcomes cannot be guaranteed, and each person’s experience of counselling is unique. Depending on the needs of the counselee, some sessions may include family members. Counselling services are offered to children, adolescents, and adults as part of the church’s counselling support ministry.
 
Appointments
Counselling sessions are 60 minutes in length. Exceptions may be made depending on the needs of the case.
 
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a core value of the counselling relationship. Counsellors are ethically and legally committed to protecting your privacy. Information shared in counselling will not be disclosed without your consent, except in specific circumstances required by law or to protect safety.
Where possible, any need to limit confidentiality will be discussed with you beforehand. If confidentiality must be limited, only relevant and necessary information will be shared, with respect for your dignity and autonomy.
Limits to confidentiality include situations where:
  • There is a reasonable belief that you may harm yourself or another person
  • There is disclosure of intent to commit, or admission of having committed a serious crime
  • There is knowledge or suspicion of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person (including children, women, or the elderly)
  • Disclosure is required by a court of law
  • Information is shared with another practitioner or pastoral leader for referral or support purposes, with your consent
Record Keeping and Electronic Communication
Basic counselling records may be kept for continuity of care and accountability. Records are stored electronically and protected through reasonable security measures, such as password protection. While every effort is made to safeguard your information, absolute security cannot be guaranteed due to the nature of electronic communication. If you have concerns about electronic storage or communication, these can be discussed.

Multiple Counselees and Joint Sessions
When counselling involves more than one person (such as couples, families, parent and child, or groups), confidentiality will be explained to all parties at the start of the counselling relationship.
All participants will have the opportunity to discuss what information will be kept confidential, what may be shared within the session, and what the counsellor may be required to disclose in line with ethical and legal responsibilities.
 
Legally Dependent Counselees (Children and Adolescents)
Counselling provided to children and adolescents is guided by the principle that the best interests of the child are always of primary importance. Special care is taken when working with children, particularly those aged 14 years and younger.
For counselees under the age of 18 who are not legally emancipated, the law may allow parents or legal guardians to access their child’s counselling records.

However, appropriate privacy is often essential for effective counselling, especially with adolescents. For this reason, parents or guardians may be asked to agree to limit their access to detailed counselling records.

Where such an agreement is in place, parents or guardians will generally receive only:
  • General feedback regarding the counselee’s progress
  • Confirmation of attendance at scheduled sessions

Information shared by the counselee will remain confidential unless there is a serious concern about the safety of the counselee or others, or where disclosure is required by law.

If you are under the age of 18, the limits of confidentiality will be explained to you at the start of counselling, including the circumstances under which information may need to be shared with your parent or guardian. Where possible, any sharing of information will be discussed with you beforehand, and your views will be respectfully considered.

At the conclusion of counselling, a brief summary of the counselling process may be provided to parents or guardians where appropriate.

Reporting Abuse of Children and Vulnerable Adults

Counsellors are legally and ethically required to report any reasonable suspicion or knowledge of abuse or neglect involving a child or a vulnerable adult, in accordance with applicable law and safeguarding responsibilities.

Professional Records
Counselling records are kept to support continuity of care and accountability. Personal session notes are kept separate from the general counselling record and are used solely by the counsellor for professional purposes. These notes are not shared with others without the counselee’s written consent, unless required by law.

All records are handled in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). General information about POPIA and data protection rights can be accessed through official South African government resources or other reputable legal information websites.
Information regarding current health-related protocols, where applicable, may also be made available by the church or counselling ministry.
 
Termination of Counselling
Counselling, like all relationships, has a beginning, a process, and an end. Wherever possible, counselling is concluded by mutual agreement between the counsellor and the counselee, typically when counselling goals have been met and there is a reasonable expectation that progress can be maintained.

A counselee may choose to end counselling at any time. When possible, a planned ending is encouraged in order to reflect on progress, address any remaining concerns, and bring the counselling relationship to a healthy close.
In some circumstances, a counsellor may determine that it is necessary to end counselling, even if the counselee does not agree.

In such cases, the counsellor will:
  • Discuss the reasons for termination with the counselee
  • Where appropriate, attempt to address or resolve the concerns
  • Provide reasonable notice to allow for a smooth transition
  • Offer referrals to other suitable support or professionals, where available
  • Offer a final session to support closure
  • Provide written communication explaining the termination

Declaration & Consent

If you have read and understood and accepted the above regulations and limitations to confidentiality and if you aware of your rights with regard to the counselling service and your responsibilities, please sign this document.

Should you not agree to the terms and conditions as set out in this agreement and consent declaration you must notify the service provider immediately failing which it will be deemed that you accept and agree to the terms and conditions set out above.

Digital and Electronic Signatures

This consent form may be signed electronically. South African law recognizes electronic signatures as valid and enforceable, and no special formalities are generally required for an agreement to be legally binding.
In terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA), an electronic signature may include methods such as typing a name, clicking an acceptance button, signing on a digital device, or using a scanned handwritten signature.

Where required by law, an advanced electronic signature may be used. For the purposes of this counselling consent, a standard electronic signature is sufficient unless otherwise specified.

By signing this document electronically, you agree that your signature is legally valid and binding.

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