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Confidentiality
Laban Counsellors will not pass on personal information about a client (including information on attendance) to anyone outside the counselling team, subject to the following exceptions:

• Where a counsellor has the express consent of the client to disclose the information or data
• Where a counsellor would be liable to civil or criminal court procedure if the information was not disclosed
• Where a counsellor believes the client is in serious danger.

In any of these circumstances, the counsellor will normally encourage the client him/herself to pass on information to the relevant person/agency. If there is no indication that this has happened, and if the crisis or danger is sufficiently acute, the counsellor may pass on the information directly. Consent to disclose information will be sought from the client, if at all possible.

Consultation
In line with their professional requirement counsellors may discuss their work with an external consultant . In this process, the identity of the client is not revealed. The purpose of consultation is to help the counsellors reflect on their work.

Liaison and correspondence
With the permission of the client it may be appropriate for the counsellor to liaise with or write to a third party, for example, a tutor or General Practitioner. In the case of telephone calls, the purpose of the call will be discussed with the client prior to the call.

Record Keeping and Data Protection
It is usual practice for counsellors to keep records on clients and their sessions. Counselling notes record background information and the issues raised and worked on in the sessions. These will vary in length and detail. Points of concern are also noted.

Under the Data Protection Act, clients have a right of access to all notes kept on them. If those notes contain references to other individuals these may not be available to the client, as protection is also granted to third parties. It will be important not just to show the notes to the client, but for the counsellor to talk to them about what their file contains and why. Some notes are in shorthand and may need explaining. If a client's file includes a letter or additional information from the person responsible for their clinical care, usually their GP or psychiatrist, consent from the relevant practitioner must be obtained before the correspondence is disclosed. If a client wishes to see their file, they should ask their counsellor giving two weeks' notice.

Security
All notes and records are kept securely for a period of between 2 and 5 years. After this time they are destroyed by shredding.

Codes of ethics
The Laban counsellors adhere to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Code of Ethics and Practice.

Complaints Procedure
First discuss your complaint about the Counselling Service with your counsellor or the Senior Counsellor (Claudio Calvi). If your complaint is about the Senior Counsellor, after speaking to him, contact the Vice-Principal, Mirella Bartrip.