Feel Good Psychology takes client privacy seriously. When insurers, lawyers, or other third parties request information, the practice aims to provide what is relevant and reasonably necessary while protecting the confidentiality and therapeutic integrity of the client record.
This page explains how the practice handles requests from insurers, solicitors, workplaces, and other third parties. The aim is to balance claim or legal requirements with strong privacy protections and clear communication.
Registered psychologists in Australia are required to practise in accordance with the Psychology Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct, which includes duties around confidentiality, safe practice, and appropriate disclosure of information.
That means a signed authority is important, but it does not remove the clinician’s responsibility to consider scope, sensitivity, relevance, and whether a narrower form of disclosure is more appropriate.
Psychology records can include highly sensitive contextual material, therapeutic process observations, and personal information that may not be necessary for assessing a claim or legal issue.
For that reason, the practice will often recommend a comprehensive report that summarises relevant history, diagnosis, treatment, functional impact, and prognosis, rather than releasing the entire clinical file.
Each request is reviewed carefully before any information is sent. This helps ensure that the release is lawful, clinically appropriate, and clearly understood by the client.
We review the request. The practice looks at who is requesting the information, what has been requested, and the purpose for which it will be used, such as an insurance claim, workplace matter, or legal proceeding.
We confirm consent and scope. Clients are asked to provide clear written consent that identifies who may receive information and what type of information may be disclosed. The scope of consent should be specific rather than open-ended wherever possible.
We decide on the most appropriate format. Depending on the request, the practice may provide a letter, a treatment summary, a comprehensive report, or limited administrative information. Full progress notes are not automatically released simply because they have been requested.
We document the process. File notes are kept regarding the request, the client’s consent, the scope of disclosure, and what was ultimately provided. This supports good record-keeping and transparency.
For many insurer and lawyer requests, a structured report is the most appropriate response. It gives the requesting party clinically relevant information without unnecessarily exposing intimate therapy material.
A report may include:
Relevant history and presenting concerns.
Diagnosis or clinical formulation where appropriate.
Treatment provided and response to treatment.
Functional impact on work, relationships, or daily living.
Clinical opinion on prognosis and ongoing treatment needs.
This approach is often preferred because:
It focuses on what is relevant to the purpose of the request.
It better protects private therapeutic material and process notes.
It reduces the risk of sensitive content being read outside clinical context.
It supports more careful, clinically meaningful communication with third parties.
In some circumstances, a court order, subpoena, or other legal requirement may compel broader disclosure. Where that occurs, the practice will comply with lawful requirements while taking reasonable steps to explain the process and protect privacy where possible.
The practice usually provides a targeted clinical report because full psychology notes may contain sensitive process material and personal context that is not necessary for the insurer or lawyer to assess the issue in question.
Yes. Clients can ask what has been requested, what is proposed to be released, and whether a report or more limited disclosure may meet the purpose before information is sent.
Report writing is a separate professional service from therapy. Fees are generally payable by the requesting party, the client, or a third party funder if funding approval has been arranged.
The practice will review the request, confirm consent, and consider whether a narrower and more appropriate response can be given. If broader disclosure is legally required, the practice will respond in accordance with the law.
Clients are encouraged to discuss any concerns about privacy, reports, or third-party requests before documents are prepared or sent. Clear discussion at the outset usually leads to better protection, fewer misunderstandings, and more focused reporting.
This document is general practice information only and does not replace legal advice. Clients are encouraged to seek legal advice where insurance or litigation issues are involved.
Our Mission
The Feel Good Mission
Our mission is to enrich as many lives as possible with our professional, compassionate, and progressive ‘Feel Good’ approach to therapy.
