Confidentiality in Therapy: What It Is, Why It Matters. and What to Expect

Confidentiality is one of the most important, and sometimes least understood, aspects of therapy in Singapore.

It’s also one of the most common questions we receive:

What does confidentiality really mean?
What can a psychologist share?
What stays private?

In Singapore (as in Australia and many other countries), psychologists are ethically and legally bound to protect your privacy, unless there is a serious reason related to risk or legal obligation to disclose.

At its heart, unless there are legal or safety-related reasons that require otherwise, confidentiality means that what you talk about in therapy stays private.

When clients feel that their privacy is protected, they are more able to speak honestly about difficult experiences, emotions, and relationships.

Confidentiality builds trust, and trust helps therapy work.

Why Is Confidentiality So Important in Therapy?

Confidentiality has been central to the practice of therapy for more than a century.

The idea goes back to the early 1900s. Therapists first recognised that clients need a space to speak freely, without fear of judgment or external consequences.

Research has consistently shown that a sense of trust and safety in the therapy relationship is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes (Norcross & Wampold, 2011). Learn more about finding the right therapist here.

Simply put, therapy works better when the space feels safe.

This is especially true when working with difficult or sensitive issues like trauma, eating disorders, anxiety, family dynamics, and relationship challenges. For therapy to be effective, clients need to know that their privacy will be respected.

In Singapore, confidentiality is guided by:

• The Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) Code of Professional Ethics

• The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) — which regulates how client information is handled and stored

• Professional standards upheld by trained psychologists and mental health providers

Similarly, in Australia, psychologists are guided by:

• The AHPRA Code of Ethics

• The Australian Privacy Act

Across both contexts, the principle is clear: psychologists are responsible for maintaining client confidentiality, except where serious safety concerns arise, or where required by law.

Confidentiality in Action: What It Looks Like in Real Life

Many clients wonder: what does confidentiality actually look like, in day-to-day therapy?

Here are some common examples:

🛋️ In the therapy room

Your psychologist will not share what you say in therapy with anyone — including your partner, parent, teacher, employer, or GP — unless you give explicit consent.

If you request for your psychologist to speak with someone (for example, your psychiatrist or doctor), they will ask you to provide written permission first.

For example: If a teacher were to ask your psychologist about your child’s behaviour at school, your psychologist cannot respond unless you have provided permission.

📋 Therapy notes

Psychologists keep session notes, which are stored securely and privately, according to PDPA (Singapore) or the Australian Privacy Act.

These notes are not shared with others, except in rare circumstances required by law.

🏙️ Out in public

If your psychologist sees you in public in Singapore, like at a cafe or gym, they will not acknowledge you unless you initiate contact. Even then, contact tends to be kept brief.

This is to protect your privacy, and to avoid revealing your therapeutic relationship to others.

👩‍👦 When working with teens or young adults

When working with adolescents, psychologists strive to balance respect for the teen’s privacy with the need for appropriate parental involvement.

Parents naturally want to know how their child is doing in therapy and open conversations are encouraged. At the same time, therapy is most effective when young people feel able to speak honestly, knowing that some level of privacy will be respected.

In these cases, psychologists usually discuss openly with both teen and parent what information can and cannot be shared so everyone knows what to expect.

🚨 Disclosures of past crimes

A question clients sometimes ask: Can you report me if I disclose something illegal I did in the past?

In Singapore and Australia, psychologists are not required to report past crimes unless there is:

• Current or ongoing risk of harm to someone (including yourself)

• Current child abuse or neglect

• A court order or legal obligation

In other words: past illegal behaviour does not automatically trigger a mandatory report unless there is a clear risk involved.

⚠️ Safety situations

There are some situations where psychologists are legally or ethically required to break confidentiality even without client consent:

• If there is serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else

• If there is current child abuse, neglect, or exploitation

• If required by court order or legal mandate

• If there is a clear and immediate risk to public safety

Whenever possible, your psychologist should be discussing this with you in advance unless it is an urgent situation.

Final Thoughts

Confidentiality builds trust.

It’s helps to set the boundaries needed to build a space where you can speak freely, without fear of judgment or exposure, so honesty and self-understanding can grow.

Confidentiality is more than a policy. It is one of the foundations of good therapy and part of how we hold space for each person who walks through our door.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is confidentiality in therapy?

Confidentiality in therapy means that what you discuss with your psychologist stays private, unless there are serious safety concerns or legal reasons to disclose. This helps create a safe space where you can speak openly and honestly.

How private is therapy in Singapore?

In Singapore, psychologists are bound by both professional ethics and the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Your therapy sessions are private. Psychologists will not share information with others (including family members or employers) unless you give consent, or if there is a legal obligation.

Can a therapist share what I say in therapy?

A psychologist can only share information with your consent or if required by law. Situations where confidentiality may be broken include serious risk of harm to yourself or others, current child abuse or exploitation, or a legal court order.

Are there situations where confidentiality is broken?

Yes. What you discuss in therapy remains confidential unless there is:

• A serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else

• Current child abuse or exploitation

• Required by court order or legal mandate