Safeguarding Experts
Private Therapy and Counselling Practices
Private therapy and counselling practices work closely with clients who are often vulnerable, including children, young people and people with disability. Psychologists, counsellors, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and other practitioners have a legal and ethical obligation to keep clients safe, maintain professional boundaries and respond appropriately to concerns about harm.
Expert legal services to therapy and counselling practices
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Safeguarding in Private Therapy and Counselling Practices
Therapeutic relationships are built on trust. Practitioners often work one-on-one with clients, including children, young people and adults experiencing vulnerability, in private settings and sometimes online. This creates an inherent power imbalance and a responsibility to maintain clear professional boundaries.
Registered health practitioners, such as psychologists and occupational therapists, are regulated under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and must meet the standards set by their National Board. Breaches of professional boundaries can result in serious consequences. In a recent VCAT decision, an occupational therapist was found guilty of professional misconduct for an intimate relationship with a vulnerable client, and her registration was cancelled.
Practitioners may also have mandatory reporting obligations. In Victoria, for example, registered psychologists are mandatory reporters and must report a belief on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection from physical injury or sexual abuse. Mandatory reporting obligations vary between states and territories and between professions.
Practices that provide services to children and young people may be required to comply with Child Safe Standards in their state or territory, and practitioners working with children may need a Working with Children Check. Practices that deliver NDIS supports must also meet their obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and, if registered, the NDIS Practice Standards. Learn more about our services for NDIS providers.
Our Services
Safeguarding Policies
Developing child safety, professional boundaries and complaints handling policies and codes of conduct for private practices
Investigations
Independent, trauma-informed investigations into allegations of boundary breaches, misconduct and harm
Audits
Safeguarding audits and gap analysis against Child Safe Standards and practice obligations with practical recommendations
Safeguarding Training
Tailored training for practitioners and staff on mandatory reporting, professional boundaries and child safety
Legal Advice
Expert safeguarding legal advice for private practices, including complaints and regulatory matters
Incident Management
Root cause analyses of critical incidents with crisis management and regulatory compliance support