Policies & Important Information
A legal disclaimer
INFORMED CONSENT
Consent for therapy needs to be informed. Informed means that before your therapist can work with you, they have to provide you with information about:
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The plan for counselling
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The policy on confidentiality
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The risks and benefits of counselling
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The private practice policy
Consent must be given voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. This means that you are making your own decision without any pressure by someone else; you know you are consenting to counselling; you are capable of giving consent.
Can a child/youth give informed consent?
There is no stipulated age of when consent can be given by a child/youth in Canada. Wherever possible, encourages both child/youth and parent(s)/legal guardian(s) to be involved in giving consent. Your therapist will work with you (and parent(s)/legal guardians if present) to determine who can legally give consent.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND RISKS OF THERAPY
Before giving your consent for counselling, it is important to be informed of possible risks and benefits.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
While Sacred Roots Counselling cannot guarantee or promise a specific outcome, there are a number of potential benefits that may result from short-term and long-term therapy. Though not a complete list, some potential benefits are:
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Improvement in your overall mood
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Increased self-esteem and confidence
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Increased ability to manage stressful life circumstances
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Increased feelings of connection
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Increased ability to manage strong emotional reactions such as anger, fear, and sadness
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Increased ability to trust and feel close to others
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Increased ability to communicate your feelings, thoughts, and needs to others
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Increased ability to stop behaviors that are not serving you well and start engaging in healthier behaviors
POTENTIAL RISKS
There are also potential risks from participating in therapy. Though not a complete list, some potential risks are:
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You may not find the therapy helpful. If progress is not being made, you or your therapist may decide to discontinue sessions. At Sacred Roots Counselling , our main priority is making sure you get the best help for your situation and that may mean referring you to a different type of therapist, specialist, or program.
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Sometimes feelings and behaviours may worsen while participating in therapy. Talking about distressing life events can bring up uncomfortable thoughts and feelings that may take time to process and work through.
*We encouraged you to discuss any fears, concerns, or doubts you may have with your therapist in the intake session.
PRIVACY OF INFORMATION
As Canadian health care professionals, Sacred Roots Counselling is required to be compliant with provincial and federal privacy laws. We use an electronic medical records system (EMR) and offer online video counselling through this system. The EMR that we use to document and provide online counselling adhere to Manitoba Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) and Canada’s Personal Information Protection Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
You can learn more about PIPEDA at: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/
You can learn more about PHIA at: