Is therapy confidential? Understanding privacy in therapy
.png)
.jpg)
Key Takeaways
- Therapy on the GreenShield+ platform is private: your personal information is encrypted, stored securely, and access is limited to those who need it to support your care.
- What you share in therapy is treated as private. In a few specific situations — such as an immediate risk of harm — therapists are required by law to share information.
- Before your first session, you’ll be asked to provide informed consent after you’ve understood how your information is collected, used, and protected.
One of the most common questions people ask before starting therapy is whether their sessions will stay private. It makes sense. Talking about what you're going through takes trust, and knowing that your information is protected can make it easier to take that first step.
The short answer: yes, therapy is confidential. Licensed therapists in Canada are bound by professional codes of ethics and federal and provincial privacy laws that govern the collection, use, and sharing of personal health information. When you use the GreenShield+ platform, additional layers of technical security are built in to protect your data.
Here is what that looks like in practice.
How your privacy is protected when you start therapy
Therapists in Canada are regulated health professionals. To practice, they must meet strict professional standards for how your personal health information is handled — including how it is collected, where it is stored, and who can see it. These obligations come from their respective professional colleges and from Canadian privacy law.
When you use GreenShield+, additional safeguards like encryption and controlled access protect your information. The GreenShield privacy policy explains these protections in full.
There are limited, legally defined exceptions where a therapist may need to disclose information you share. These include an imminent risk of serious harm to self or others, suspected abuse or neglect of a child or elder, or a court order requiring disclosure. Before your first session, you’ll be presented with an informed consent which further outlines the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information. Consent is a conversation, not just a form. Your therapist will walk you through how your information is handled before you begin, and you can ask questions about it at any point in your care.
{{highlight-box}}
Understanding the limits of confidentiality
What you share in a therapy session is kept confidential. However, there are a few specific situations where therapists may be legally and professionally required to share information. Therapists may be required to share information relating to:
- immediate risks of harm to you or someone else
- reasonable suspicion that a vulnerable person, such as a child or elder, is being abused or neglected
- a court order requiring disclosure
{{/highlight-box}}
How GreenShield Health protects your mental health information
An encrypted connection is created directly between you and your therapist for each session.
Personal data is encrypted. Information such as your name, address, and therapist notes are stored on secure servers protected in accordance with GreenShield’s security policies.This data is encrypted at rest and in transit using industry-standard encryption.
Access is tightly controlled. Access to stored information is limited to authorized employees and practitioners who need it for their roles, and that access is regularly audited.
These confidentiality practices apply whether you are paying for therapy yourself or accessing it through a workplace benefits plan. You can review the full GreenShield privacy policy at greenshield.ca/en-ca/privacy-policy.
Frequently asked questions about therapy and privacy
Get started to improve your mental health
.jpg)
.jpg)
