​The Relationship as Client

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When you engage in Relationship Counselling with me, the relationship is my client, not each party individually. My commitment is to the health and progress of your relationship, maintaining neutrality and working in service of both of you.

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Individual Sessions Within Relationship Counselling

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During our relationship’s work, we may encounter specific obstacles or impasses that prevent progress. When this occurs, and with both of you present, I may suggest meeting individually with one party for 1-2 sessions to address the specific roadblock. Both parties will be aware when these individual meetings are scheduled and why.

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Important: These individual sessions are NOT individual counselling; they are strategic interventions within our Relationship Counselling to remove barriers to progress. If either party needs individual counselling for personal issues, trauma work, or mental health concerns beyond the relationship, I will provide referrals to other qualified counsellors.

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Confidentiality Policy for Individual Sessions

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Information shared during individual sessions within our Relationship Counselling must ultimately be brought into that work, and this is how it will be done:

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1. Session 1-2: I will support you in preparing to share necessary information with the other person(s). I will help you find the words, timing, and approach to communicate effectively.

2. After a maximum of 2 individual sessions, one of three things must occur:

   • Option A: You share the information yourself, either in your own time or in our next relationship’s session, OR

   • Option B: You give me explicit permission to share the information so we can continue Relationship Counselling, OR

   • Option C: If you choose not to share or permit me to share, I cannot continue Relationship Counselling with you as a relationship

If Option C occurs, I will meet with both of you together one final time to explain that Relationship Counselling cannot continue, and I will provide referrals to individual counsellors for each of you separately.

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Safety and Legal Exceptions

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The above timeline does NOT apply in situations involving immediate safety or legal concerns. I will address the following immediately, and may need to disclose information or act without your permission:

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• Physical, sexual, or severe emotional abuse

• Imminent risk of harm to self or others (suicide or homicide risk)

• Child abuse or neglect (I am legally mandated to report under provincial law)

• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) exposure where one person(s) is/are at risk

• Elder abuse or abuse of vulnerable persons (as required by provincial law)

• Criminal activity that directly harms other person(s) (fraud, identity theft, financial exploitation)

In these situations, the safety and wellbeing of individuals take priority over the supported disclosure process.

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After Relationship Counselling Ends

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If our Relationship Counselling concludes for any reason (successful completion, mutual decision to end, or inability to continue due to undisclosed information), I will refer both parties to separate individual counsellors. This maintains the neutrality of our Relationship Counselling work and avoids conflicts of interest.

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Your Rights

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• You may ask questions about this policy at any time

• You may decline individual sessions if suggested

• You may request to discontinue Relationship Counselling at any time

• You have the right to know the general purpose when individual sessions are scheduled

• You have the right to access your health information under the provincial law

Acknowledgment

By signing below, all parties acknowledge that:

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• We understand the relationship is the client in Relationship Counselling

• We understand individual sessions may occur as part of relationship’s work, with both parties aware

• We understand information from individual sessions must be brought into Relationship Counselling within the timeframe described (maximum 2 sessions)

• We understand the safety and legal exceptions to this policy

• We understand that if information cannot be shared after 2 individual sessions, Relationship Counselling will end, and we will receive referrals to separate counsellors

• We have had the opportunity to ask questions about this policy

• We have received a copy of this consent form for our records