Your Rights

As a client of GWI, you have the right to:

• Be Treated with Respect and Dignity — Receive psychological services in a safe, respectful, and non-discriminatory environment, regardless of your age, sex, gender identity, civil status, religion, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, or presenting concern.
• Make Informed Decisions — Receive clear information about the purpose, nature, benefits, possible risks, and fees of any service before it begins. You have the right to ask questions, seek clarification, and decide whether to proceed.
• Give or Withdraw Consent — Participation in psychological services is voluntary. You may refuse or discontinue a consultation, assessment, or treatment at any time, unless the service is required by law or ordered by a court.
• Privacy and Confidentiality — Your personal information and clinical records are treated as confidential. We will not disclose your information to family members, employers, schools, insurance providers, or other third parties without your written consent, except when disclosure is required or permitted by law. The limits of confidentiality are explained below.
• Participate in Your Care — Psychological care works best as a partnership. You have the right to participate in setting goals, discussing treatment options, asking questions, and making informed decisions about your care.
• Access Your Records — You may submit a written request to review or obtain copies of your records, subject to applicable laws, professional ethics, and clinical judgment.
• Receive Safe and Competent Care — Receive services from qualified professionals practicing within their areas of competence and in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal standards.
• Raise Concerns Without Fear — If you have concerns about your care, you have the right to ask questions, provide feedback, or file a complaint without fear that doing so will affect the quality of services you receive.

Confidentiality and Its Limits

Confidentiality is one of the foundations of psychological practice. GWI protects your information in accordance with:

• Republic Act No. 10029 (Philippine Psychology Act of 2009)
• Republic Act No. 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012)
• The Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists
• Other applicable Philippine laws and professional regulations

While your information is treated as confidential, there are situations where your practitioner may be required or permitted by law to disclose information without your consent. These may include:

• Known or reasonably suspected child abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• Situations involving abuse or violence where reporting is required under Philippine law.
• When there is a serious and imminent risk of harm to yourself or another person.
• When disclosure is required by a lawful court order or other legal authority.
• Other circumstances where disclosure is required or authorized by Philippine law.

Whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so, your practitioner will discuss these circumstances with you before any disclosure is made.

Access to Your Records

You have the right to request access to your personal information and psychological records in accordance with applicable laws, professional ethics, and clinical standards.

To protect your privacy and ensure records are released appropriately, requests must be submitted in writing. Depending on the nature of the request, we may provide copies of records, a summary of your information, or arrange for you to review your records with your practitioner.

In some situations, access to certain information may be limited or provided in a different form where permitted by law or professional ethical standards, particularly if disclosure could reasonably result in serious harm to you or another person, or if the information relates to another individual’s privacy rights.

We aim to process requests as promptly as possible and, where applicable, within 30 days of receiving all necessary documentation.