Uk Laws With Disclosing Information?

[Deleted member 26314]

I was reading around and another thread on here peaked my interests regarding laws about whether a therapist/professional is required to disclose information regarding your trauma. My ex-boyfriend (was my boyfriend for 2 months then) tried to rape me, he was also generally sexually and physically abused. My father also abused me and my step-mum and sisters physically.

My question is, if I told my therapist this, eventually (and hopefully) in detail, would she be required to 1) tell my mum about my ex and my father 2) tell the police and 3) tell social services about my father.

I'm 16, 17 this year and I with the NHS' mental health service, if that makes any difference (i.e. I'm not with a private therapist). As far as I was aware, 16 was the age in which you could do things such as go to the doctors etc without telling your parents and also I assumed that patient confidentiality kept the therapist/professional about telling my mum and the police/other professionals. But I started to doubt myself, so could anyone bring some light on the UK laws about this?

 

[digger]

This would be a good conversation to have directly with your therapist when you see her. You don't have to disclose anything to ask her about her obligations regarding disclosure. I have a feeling 18 might be the cut off point for some things. Even as an adult though, there may be times when your therapist could break confidentiality, but these would be restricted to situations where you were either in danger, or were a danger to yourself or others.

 

[digger]

This is a site for a specific counselling centre but might be worth looking at their policies http://www.lifecentre.uk.com/counselling/under_18s_counselling_faq.html#9

And looking up Gillick competency which looks like it applies to under 18 year olds

 

[Deleted member 26314]

Alright, thank you digger1. I am seeing her tomorrow so I will make sure to ask before I say anything to her. I'm not sure what I should do if it turns out she is required to pass on information like what happened to me, even though it is in the past.

My dad is still with my step-mum and sisters so I am guessing she woud have to say something about that?

 

[digger]

Do you still see your dad? I think it would come down to whether she considered you still to be at risk from him. How old are your sisters?

 

[Meadowsweet]

In the UK a therapist is required by law to alert the appropriate authorities if they consider that you are a danger to yourself or others, or if they believe that you or others are in danger from anyone else.

So it depends on factors such as whether your father is still in contact with children, and whether there is suspicion that he may still be abusing. This is the law, however old you are.

I don't know the law regarding 16-18 year olds.

 

[Deleted member 26314]

I don't still see him, his is in a different country to me, as is my ex. My sisters are 4, 13 and 14. The 14 year old is coming to the UK when she turns 16, as is the 13 year old. My step-mum refuses to get social services involved or any authority. I don't know why, but when social services did get involved (due to someone else calling them) when I was there, my step-mum told us all to lie. So, yeah.

 

[digger]

A different country outside of the UK or within the UK? Sorry just seen you said coming to the UK so presumably outside?

 

[Meadowsweet]

I don't know what can be done if the perpetrator is in a different country. But, what I would say, is that you have the choice to tell the truth or not. It's not up to your step-mum now.

If your siblings are being abused, then maybe it is best to tell. Sometimes, being able to do so by telling your therapist the truth and leaving it up to the therapists judgement takes the pressure off you, and will support you with it.

Given a choice of whether to protect the adults or the children, I would choose the children - but it is a tough call.

 

[digger]

I would ask her what her obligations were hypothetically if someone disclosed something that occurred in another country. It doesn't sound like she should have any reason to believe that you are currently at risk, but I'm not sure about international law and your siblings. It might depend on which country it is.

 

[Deleted member 26314]

It is a UK country, UK laws etc.

I do want to help my sisters, don't get me wrong, but right now, thinking about it and having to talk about it and then the process of talking to social services etc, it's all very overwhelming and painful at the moment. Hence my hesitation on said things. I just want to forget for the time being, my sisters will be leaving there in a matter of years, I know it's years, but I know the eldest told me that if it got any worse she would tell someone - I made sure she and the others were 'okay' before I left to come home.

 

[digger]

I understand that.

I stick with my original advice then and use tomorrow's session to establish with her what her obligations are and make your decisions on what you want/feel able to share with her from there.

Maybe write down a list if things you need to know from her before you go and take it with you.