A. THE RE-EVALUATION COUNSELING COMMUNITY
A.5. Confidentiality[21] [22]
Confidentiality in RC means that nothing that the client communicates in a session, or in their turn as client at any RC event, is to be repeated to anyone without the client’s permission. It also means not repeating it to the client at another time. Confidentiality is a fundamental and core principle of our Community and our practice. It is a central requirement of RC sessions and group Co-Counseling settings, and all Co-Counselors are expected to adhere to it.
There may be exceptions to this Guideline when other factors outweigh confidentiality, for example, when an individual’s safety or the safety of others is at risk, or when a Co-Counselor believes there has been sexual misconduct in a session. (See Guideline M.5. Handling Oppressor Patterns including Sexual Misconduct, and Addressing Mistakes, Disagreements, and Criticism.) If there are other occasions when a Co-Counselor thinks an exception should be made to this Guideline, it should be first discussed with their teacher or a Reference Person.
The importance of confidentiality, distresses that can compromise confidentiality, and any difficulty in maintaining confidentiality, should be addressed early in every fundamentals class.
REASON
We expect that anything communicated as a client at any RC event will not be repeated to others or to the client at a different time without their agreement. We need this safety to be open in our sessions and not have to be careful about the accuracy of what we say.[23] Maintaining confidentiality creates that safety.
The confidentiality requirement counters patterns of gossiping and thoughtlessly talking about what other people say and do. Co-Counselors who don’t follow other Guidelines (for example, no socializing, sexual misconduct) cannot use the principle of confidentiality to hide those acts. The confidentiality Guideline may not be applied in such circumstances.
[21] This Guideline has the force of a requirement for being part of the RC Community.
[22] This agreement on confidentiality does not release one from legally mandated reporting requirements. For example, some nations and states have laws concerning the reporting of child and elder abuse or neglect. Some laws require all persons to report suspected child and elder abuse or neglect.
[23] It is important for Co-Counselors to remember that what a client works on in a session may not be an accurate portrayal of anything that actually occurred.