This Code of Ethics aims to ensure confidentiality, accessibility, efficiency, and professionalism in psychological support.
It is aligned with the Code of Ethics of the Portuguese Psychologists Association (OPP) and with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Clients must carefully read this Code and clarify any doubts with the psychologist responsible for their support.

1. Competence

• All outCOme psychologists have appropriate training and recognise the limits of their practice.
• Whenever an intervention outside their field of competence is required, the case may be referred or jointly managed with another psychologist or health professional.

2. Informed consent

• The person receiving support must be clearly informed about any assessments to be carried out and their objectives. Once a diagnosis is made, the person receiving support must be informed of the results in order to consent to the psychologist’s intervention.
• The intervention only begins once the person receiving support has provided free and informed consent.

3. Professional relationship

• The relationship between psychologist and person receiving support is guided by integrity and trust.
• The psychologist maintains a strictly professional relationship, without personal gain or interests.
• The intervention ends when it is no longer beneficial to the person receiving support.
• The duration of the support is established transparently and in collaboration with the person receiving support.
• Sessions may be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance; after this period, they are considered as provided.
• The psychologist responsible for the support is part of a team and receives clinical supervision, which may involve discussing cases within the team to ensure the best therapeutic decision, always safeguarding confidentiality.
• Should an unforeseen situation arise, the psychologist may reschedule the session or refer the person receiving support to another professional.
• In complex cases, two psychologists may be present.

4. Confidentiality and anonymity

• outCOme psychologists protect the right to privacy, with particular emphasis on confidentiality and anonymity.
  • Anonymity: not disclosing the identity of the person receiving support.
  • Confidentiality: not sharing information obtained in the context of psychological support.
  • Confidentiality may only be broken in situations involving risk to the integrity or life of the person receiving support or third parties.
  • Information about the support process may only be shared with third parties with the knowledge and consente of the person receiving support.

5. Personal Data Protection (GDPR)

• All collected data are handled confidentially, solely for the purposes of psychological support and counselling.
• Data processing fully complies with the GDPR, including the rights to: update, erase, restrict processing, portability, withdrawal of consent, and lodging a complaint with the supervisory authority.
• Data retention periods comply with applicable legislation.
• For clarification, please contact: info.geral@outcome.pt.

6. Remote Psychological Intervention

• The psychologist maintains the same ethical and professional responsibilities as in face-to-face intervention.
• The means of communication is chosen jointly, after discussion of reasons and limitations.
• The person receiving remote support undertakes to ensure the best possible internet connection (quality and speed), confidentiality (private space, without third-party presence or interference), and comfort at the location where they are at the scheduled date and time.

• I have read and understood this Code of Ethics.
• I have been duly informed about the process of psychological support, including the limits of confidentiality and the conditions of remote intervention (if applicable).
• I freely agree to begin/continue psychological support.

Please complete all the following fields before submitting the form.