Privacy and clinical information
Confidentiality, Privacy and Safety
How Dublin City Counselling Services Ltd handles personal information and clinical boundaries.
Information DCCS collects
DCCS collects only information necessary to provide psychological counselling, manage appointments, maintain appropriate clinical records and meet professional, legal and safeguarding responsibilities.
Sensitive personal and health information should be collected through a secure form and not through the standard public contact form.
Location and Emergency Information
Where necessary for the safe and appropriate provision of online services, DCCS may collect information about a client's current country or location and appropriate emergency contact information.
This information may be used where reasonably necessary for service delivery, safeguarding, clinical risk management or related legal and professional obligations. It is processed and retained only for as long as required under the lawful bases and retention arrangements that apply to the relevant client record.
Public contact form
The standard contact form asks only for your name, email address, telephone number, a general reason for your enquiry and your preferred method of contact. Please do not send detailed mental health, medical or other highly sensitive information through it.
Consent and confidentiality
Before counselling begins, clients will be asked to review and agree to the counselling terms, including confidentiality, limits to confidentiality, online session arrangements, payment, cancellations, record keeping and data protection.
For clients aged 16 or 17, consent, confidentiality, parental or guardian involvement and safeguarding responsibilities will be considered and discussed before counselling begins.
Additional Consent Forms
Some services or circumstances may require additional consent forms, for example when working with young people, couples, or where specific consent is needed during therapy. These forms are only provided when relevant to your care.
Information Relating to Clients Under 18
Where DCCS assesses or provides counselling to a young person aged 16 or 17, additional information may be required for safeguarding and emergency purposes.
This may include parental or guardian details, emergency contacts, GP details, the young person’s physical location during online sessions and relevant information required to assess safety and suitability.
Information will be processed only where necessary for the provision of counselling, safeguarding, professional practice, legal compliance or the protection of vital interests.
Where a child protection concern arises, relevant information may be shared with Tusla or another appropriate statutory or emergency service in accordance with applicable legal and professional responsibilities.
Clinical safety
Online counselling may not suit every person or issue. Suitability is considered before counselling begins and kept under review.
Corporate confidentiality
Employers receive only anonymised reporting where agreed, unless disclosure is legally or clinically required.
Complaints and Feedback
DCCS is committed to providing a professional, ethical and respectful service.
Clients are encouraged to raise any concerns directly so they can be addressed promptly and fairly.
Complaints may be submitted by email to:
Where concerns cannot be resolved directly, information regarding the relevant professional body's complaints procedures will be provided where appropriate.