Your Rights
Overview of Rights for People in Counseling Services
Respectful treatment: Respectful treatment, means that I sincerely value you as a human being without regard for your choices, advantages or limitations. I consider all human beings to be precious and worthy of respectful treatment. If anything I say or do appears disrespectful to you, please let me know immediately so that I can apologize and attempt to make changes where ever possible. Since respect and courtesy mean different things to different people, communicating feelings or impressions like these is especially important.
Confidentiality of information: I will not discuss with others that you are my client, the content of our sessions or the personal information you share with me unless you have given me written permission to do so. There is an exception to this right which you should be aware of. I cannot keep confidential information which you provide if that information involves a credible risk of serious, imminent danger to yourself or to someone else or that a child or elderly person is being abused or neglected. I will report homicidal threats, child and elderly abuse and neglect to the proper authorities. My primary duty in working with you is the preservation of life. Beyond that exception, I fully respect your confidence in me and will do my best to protect your privacy.
Documentation reviewing and corrections: I keep very brief records of your visit. I note the date and time that you presented for treatment, issues discussed and the type of service I provided. You have a right to request to see the records I keep about you and to request that I correct any mistakes in your information.
Informed consent: You have the right to receive information about planned treatment and to be involved in the decision making process. I will discuss with you what the likely duration of treatment is to be, what the fees will be and how frequently the scheduled sessions will take place. You have the right to ask questions about the treatment you receive and to have those questions answered in a way which is clear and understandable to you. You and I will come up with a treatment plan which meets your needs and fits your available resources. If I need to make any changes, I will inform you before I do and will offer alternatives if you are unable or unwilling to agree to changes.
Discontinuing services: You have the right to end therapy any time you choose and without advanced notice to me. I will never require you to complete a treatment plan. It will be used as a guideline to structure our sessions but does not constitute a commitment from you for a minimum number of sessions. Discontinuing services, however, is different from missing individual appointments. I would ask, out of courtesy that you advice me if you are not intending keep an appointment so that I may be able to better manage my schedule.
For specific information regarding your rights as a client in Geneva Switzerland, you may find useful information by visiting the site of
Département de l'Economie et de la Santé (DES).