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樹洞香港心理服務實踐守則 · TreeholeHK
Effective date: 1 June 2026 · Version 1
Translated version This is an English translation of our Psychological Practice Code, provided for your convenience. The Chinese version is the authoritative text; in the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.
I
Guidance for service users, and the shared beliefs and commitments of TreeholeHK's psychological professionals.
This guide is written for everyone who wants to understand themselves better through psychology, who is seeking growth, or who needs support. Whether this is your first encounter with psychological services or you already have some experience, we hope it helps you make choices that suit you better.
TreeholeHK has always worked to make psychology easier to understand and easier to access. We believe that the more you understand about psychological services, the better you can judge what suits you—and the more actively you can take part in the process.
This guide reflects TreeholeHK's philosophy and practice, and is also the professional standard for our practitioners. It is binding on all of TreeholeHK's psychological professionals.
We choose to make our commitments public because they reflect TreeholeHK's mission: “to ignite the courage to live authentically and to transcend oneself.” This means our practitioners should treat people with sincerity and be accountable for their own conduct.
We believe clear, transparent standards protect everyone: they protect service users in receiving the service they deserve, and they protect practitioners with clear guidance and support.
II
As a service user of TreeholeHK, you hold the following rights.
When you ask, it is our responsibility to make clear to you:
We explain in clear, accessible language, avoiding unnecessary jargon. We will not claim to know things we don't, nor give oversimplified answers to complex questions. If anything is unclear, you can always ask us.
Everything you share is kept strictly confidential, except in the following legally required circumstances:
Even in these situations, we will, as far as possible, discuss it with you before any disclosure.
We take seriously any questions, concerns, or dissatisfaction you raise, including:
We will adjust how we practise in light of what you raise and our professional judgement.
You will be treated as a whole person, not a “case” or a “problem.” Your cultural background and values will be respected; your experiences and feelings will be taken seriously; you can explore and grow in a non-judgemental environment; and you will be treated as a collaborative partner, not a passive recipient of treatment.
We promise that you will know how to make a complaint and will receive a serious and timely response. Our complaints mechanism is open and transparent.
If you suspect that any TreeholeHK practitioner has breached this Code, please email [email protected].
All our practitioners solemnly commit to respecting each of the rights set out above.
III
As practitioners, we make the following commitments.
You are at the centre of our partnership. We will take reasonable steps to protect you from psychological, physical, or other forms of harm. For us, this means:
We will be our genuine selves with you, honest about what we know and don't know. We will listen openly to your experience, and treat your insights and feelings as no less important than our professional knowledge. We will set direction and evaluate progress together. For us, this means:
We will keep learning and acknowledge our own biases and limitations. We will look after our own mental health and will not force ourselves to practise when we are not in a fit state. We will be accountable for our conduct, acknowledge and address mistakes, and take every piece of feedback seriously. When a situation exceeds our competence, we will honestly admit it and help with a referral. For us, this means:
IV
Why
You need to know when you can expect us to follow these standards. If we are acting as a friend in a particular setting, or practising at another organisation, the boundaries differ. A clear scope tells you when you can hold our conduct to this Code.
More importantly, not everything TreeholeHK offers involves psychological practice. A workshop purely on public-speaking skills, for instance, is essentially skills training, with no psychological exploration or therapeutic element. But if a workshop involves inner emotional processing, self-awareness, or other psychological work, it falls within the scope of psychological services and must follow this Code.
The line is not always black and white. What matters is whether the nature and core content of the service involve psychological work.
What you can expect
This Code applies to all psychological services provided by TreeholeHK's individual practitioners, including but not limited to:
Regardless of the form, location, or fee arrangement, all TreeholeHK practitioners must comply with every provision of this Code when providing the psychological services above.
This Code does not apply to:
If you're unsure whether a particular service is covered by this Code, please ask the practitioner providing it, or enquire with TreeholeHK. We will tell you clearly what the nature of the service is and which professional codes and standards apply.
Why
Imagine going to a doctor who explains nothing, runs test after test, and then—without telling you the results—says you need surgery under general anaesthesia. Would you feel uneasy? We believe none of us would go along with treatment without an adequate explanation. Psychological services are no different.
At the heart of informed consent is respect for your autonomy. We believe that only when you genuinely understand where the process is can you feel autonomous and continue to engage in it with peace of mind. This sense of safety and autonomy is itself one of the qualities we believe brings about therapeutic effect.
Psychological services are not simply a purchase—pay, book, receive the service, and the transaction ends. They are a process you and we build together. Along the way, we create an environment in which you feel safe enough to show your true self. When you can participate autonomously and understand how the process unfolds, we are far more likely to achieve the effect we hope for.
What you can expect
Before any service begins, we will clearly explain to you:
We will make sure you have ample time to understand this information, and we will answer all your questions.
Important
Informed consent is an ongoing process, not a one-time procedure. If anything significant changes during the service—an adjustment in method, a new risk, a need for referral—we will confirm with you again.
Why
For psychological services to work, you need to be able to share openly—including thoughts, feelings, and experiences you might not tell anyone else. If you worry these might be leaked without your knowledge, you will naturally hold back, we will not reach the truest version of you, and it becomes hard to offer the most effective help.
Confidentiality is the foundation of trust and safety. Without it, there is no genuine professional relationship.
Everything you share is kept strictly confidential:
Why
Psychological work is complex. Sometimes we encounter difficulties or fall into our own blind spots, and the input of other professionals helps us understand a situation more fully. Supervision and peer consultation help us see our blind spots, avoid losing objectivity through over-involvement, and find more ways to intervene in particular situations.
In peer or external supervision, it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone involved—including external supervisors—is bound by confidentiality standards equal to TreeholeHK's. This is not merely an expectation but a responsibility we actively confirm and put in place before arranging supervision.
In these situations:
Why
This is a balance between two important values: your right to privacy and the duty to protect life. When someone's life is in immediate danger, confidentiality is no longer the foremost consideration.
In the following situations, we may need to break confidentiality:
Even in these situations:
Why
Sharing cases can help other practitioners learn and ultimately benefit more people. But your story is yours, not our teaching material.
If we wish to share a case relating to you in a public setting—training, a talk, or academic publication:
Why
This is not because we think you're not good enough to be our friend. It's that different relationships carry different expectations and ways of relating, and mixing them creates problems.
Imagine: if we were also friends, might you worry during a session whether “saying this could affect our friendship”? If we had business dealings, might you suspect whether our advice is truly for your good or for some other interest? If we were lovers, could you still freely express dissatisfaction with us or question our advice?
At the heart of a professional relationship is that your needs and wellbeing are the foremost consideration. Once another relationship enters, other considerations follow—our own emotional needs, financial interests, social ties, and so on. These can affect our professional judgement and ultimately your wellbeing.
Moreover, a professional relationship already involves a power imbalance. You come to us because you need help, while we hold professional knowledge and standing. Add another relationship, and that imbalance becomes more complex and more easily abused—even if we never intend it.
What you can expect
We will avoid forming other relationships with you that could affect the professional one:
If we already knew each other before the service began:
After the service ends
Even after the service formally ends, the influence of the professional relationship does not disappear at once. You may still see us as “that counsellor” rather than an equal friend or partner. This internalised sense of role and power dynamic takes time to fade.
What we will do:
Why
A conflict of interest means we have another interest or relationship that could affect our professional judgement about you. For example: counselling you and your family member or colleague at the same time may make it hard to stay neutral toward each; holding another role in your company may affect how we support you; receiving a commission for referring you to a service may affect our advice.
A conflict of interest doesn't necessarily mean we will do wrong. But it creates potential bias, and that bias is often unconscious. Even when we try to stay objective, our judgement may still be affected when other interests are involved. Disclosing a conflict of interest lets you know these factors exist, so you can judge for yourself whether to trust our advice or seek another opinion. This is an expression of transparency and respect for your autonomy.
What you can expect
What we will do:
Common conflict-of-interest situations:
Your rights:
Why
There is no single statutory regulator for the psychological professions in Hong Kong. Different practitioners may belong to different professional bodies, each with its own code of conduct.
What you can expect
TreeholeHK practitioners may also be regulated by other professional bodies, such as:
We promise: where this Code differs from another professional code, we will apply whichever standard offers you greater protection.
For example:
You may ask about:
Why
The field of psychology is full of theories, techniques, and schools of thought. Some have been validated by rigorous and extensive research; others rest on relatively thinner evidence. As a service user, you may not be able to tell how reliable a theoretical basis is.
The principle of evidence-based practice means the methods we use are supported by research. It isn't perfect—science never is—but at least there is evidence that they generally work. It cannot guarantee they will work for you, but the odds are better.
But evidence is not the only consideration. Sometimes research evidence is insufficient—perhaps the field is new, or research resources are limited. This doesn't mean we can't use those methods, but we will tell you honestly: “This method isn't yet well supported by research, but based on theory and our experience we think it may help you. There is, of course, uncertainty.” This honesty lets you make an informed choice.
What you can expect
What we will do:
What we will not do:
When using emerging or innovative methods:
Why
We believe psychological services are a partnership. Most of this Code sets out our responsibilities to you—as it should, because we hold professional knowledge and standing, and have a duty to use that trust well.
But effective psychological services take effort from both sides. Just as we commit to treating you sincerely, we also hope this relationship rests on mutual respect, so that we can support you better.
What you can expect
The basis of cooperation we hope for
Open communication
How well psychological services work depends greatly on how much you're willing to share. We don't expect you to hold nothing back from the start—building trust takes time. But we hope you will:
Attendance and notice
To keep the service running smoothly:
Respecting boundaries
A professional relationship has boundaries, and these are there to protect both sides:
Safety and respect
When cooperation runs into difficulty
If we find difficulties in working together—frequent absences, communication breakdowns, or other problems—we will first discuss it openly with you, understand what has happened, and look for a solution together.
In rare cases, if a problem persists and cannot be resolved, we may need to discuss whether to continue the service. But this is a last resort, not a first response. We will do our best to ensure you receive appropriate support or a referral.
V
If you have any of the following dissatisfactions or concerns about the service:
You can:
Very often, problems stem from misunderstanding, poor communication, or a mismatch in style, and an honest, mutually respectful conversation is usually enough to improve or adjust things.
If you believe a practitioner has breached this Code or other professional conduct, for example:
—or if informal feedback has failed to resolve the issue, you should make a formal complaint.
To make a formal complaint, please email [email protected], stating:
Acknowledgement (within 5 working days)
We confirm we have received your complaint.
Initial assessment (within 5 working days)
We assess the nature and seriousness of the complaint.
Investigation (as appropriate)
We may need to gather more information and interview those involved.
Response (usually within 30 days)
We inform you of the findings and our decision.
Follow-up
Where needed, we follow up and take appropriate corrective or remedial measures as the situation requires.
Possible outcomes include:
You may also complain to the following bodies:
VI
Regular review
This Code undergoes a full review once a year.
Ad-hoc revision
Revisions may be made at any time in response to major legal changes, updated professional standards, or significant events.
Consultation
Practitioners and service users are consulted before any major revision.
Proposals
Anyone may propose a revision via [email protected].
Approval
Revisions are approved by TreeholeHK management.
Notice period
Except in emergencies, major revisions are announced to all practitioners and the public at least 14 days before taking effect.
Version record
All versions are dated and archived for reference.
Public release
The latest version of this Code is available at https://treehole.hk/practice-code.
TreeholeHK Psychological Practice Code · Version 1 · Effective 1 June 2026
For any questions, please email [email protected]