Confidentiality, in plain language
What you share with me, in this inquiry and in any session, is held in confidence. Only I, Derek Shackelford, see the inquiries submitted here; no staff member has access to them. I will not share what you tell me, or the fact that you have contacted Shack Strategies, without your written permission.
There are a few limits, and I would rather you know them now than discover them later:
- ●if what you share leads me to believe that you or someone else is at serious risk of harm;
- ●if I learn that a child, an older adult, or another vulnerable person is being abused or neglected; and
- ●if the law requires it, for example a court order or subpoena.
In those moments I would share only what is necessary, and only with the people who need to know. Where it is safe and possible, I would tell you first.
Integrative Interpretation™ is my work as a cultural analyst, educator, and author. It is not therapy, counseling, coaching, or health care, and it does not diagnose or treat any condition. That also means our conversations are not covered by the legal privilege that protects what you say to a therapist, doctor, or lawyer. Confidentiality here rests on my commitment to you and on our written agreement.
In Relationship Counsel and Family Interpretation, what is said in a session stays among the people taking part, and I ask each person to treat it the same way. I don't hold secrets for one person that matter to the work we're doing together. If something is shared with me privately, I'll help you find a way to bring it into the work, or we'll pause. The one exception is safety: if bringing it forward could put anyone at risk, safety comes first.
Your inquiry is kept in this website's own inquiry records and is not forwarded to anyone else. Inquiries are kept for up to 24 months and then deleted, unless we begin working together. Email and other online tools are run by other companies, and no electronic channel is perfectly private, so please keep this inquiry brief and leave out other people's names.
