Client Consent & Confidentiality Policy

Practice Name: The Ancestral Alchemist
Responsible Practitioner: Naa Kwarley Amissah (aka Sumaiyah Yates)
Professional Standards: Fully Insured by beYogi (Insurance Plus)
Effective Date: June 19, 2026

1. Scope of the Policy

This policy governs how The Ancestral Alchemist LLC obtains informed consent from clients and ensures the absolute privacy, security, and confidentiality of all personal and wellness data. This policy applies to all services delivered in our dedicated studio, online, or at mobile client venues.

2. Informed Consent Protocol

Before receiving any holistic care, clients must fully understand the nature of the services provided and grant explicit, voluntary consent.

Modality-Specific Disclosure

• Scope of Practice: Sound Healing, Reiki, Chakra Balancing, and Crystal Healing are non-invasive, complementary energetic modalities. They are intended to support overall well-being and stress reduction. They do not replace conventional medical diagnosis, treatment, medication, or psychiatric care.

• Physical Touch Boundaries: Reiki and Chakra Balancing can be performed hands-on or entirely hands-off. The practitioner will discuss and agree upon touch boundaries prior to the start of every session. Touch is limited to light, static placement on non-vulnerable areas of the body (e.g., shoulders, feet, knees, head).

• Vibrational and Sound Frequency: Sound tools (gongs, bowls, tuning forks) generate powerful physical vibrations. Clients are informed that these tools can cause deep sensory and emotional shifts.

• Right to Withdraw Consent: Consent is dynamic. A client has the absolute right to modify, pause, or immediately halt a session at any time, for any reason, without judgment.

3. Strict Client Confidentiality

Your healing journey is a sacred, private experience. This practice maintains absolute confidentiality regarding all aspects of the practitioner-client relationship.

• Session Confidentiality: Anything shared during intake conversations, spiritual counsel, or during the session itself remains completely confidential. The practitioner will never discuss your personal details, life circumstances, or healing experiences with third parties.

• Special Category Data Protection: Wellness notes, medical history, and emotional intake details are classified as "Special Category Data" under data protection regulations (GDPR). They are treated with the highest tier of security.

• No Marketing Exploitation: Client stories, photos, or testimonials will never be used for marketing, social media, or website content without explicit, separate written consent from the client.

4. Legal and Ethical Exceptions to Confidentiality

In strict compliance with professional ethics and local laws, confidentiality will only be broken in rare, extreme circumstances where disclosure is mandatory:

1. Imminent Harm to Self or Others: If a client explicitly communicates an intention to cause severe, immediate physical harm to themselves or another individual.

2. Safeguarding Mandates: If there is a legal obligation to report the abuse or neglect of children, vulnerable adults, or elders.

3. Legal/Subpoena Orders: If ordered by a court of law or required formally by the professional liability insurer, beYogi (Insurance Plus), to investigate a serious incident report.

5. Data Retaining and Disposal

• Secure Storage: Digital client records and intake forms are stored on encrypted, password-protected, GDPR-compliant platforms. Any physical notes are locked in a secure filing cabinet at the dedicated studio.

• Retention Period: Client records are securely archived for the minimum period required by professional insurance mandates (typically 7 years following the final session) before being permanently deleted or securely shredded.