Confidentiality
By Amy Briggs
What is Confidentiality?
Confidentiality is an ethical principle that a professional will not disclose any information given by the client or relating to the client under unless given permission by the client or under certain and specific conditions.
Reasons to Break Confidentiality
Professionals have a Duty to Warn in which they should break confidentiality if:
- Client is a danger to his or herself.
- Client is a danger to others.
Importnace of Confidentiality
- Helps develop and build a trusting relationship with client.
- Keeps client from danger if they were to disclose such information about situations that might put them in harms way.
- Keeps their business their business.
ACA Code of Ethics: Confidentiality and Privacy
Respect Clients Rights
- Multicultural/Diversity Considerations
- Respect for Privacy
- Respect for Confidentiality
- Explanation of Limitations
Exceptions
- Serious and Foreseeable Harm and Legal Requirements
- Confidentiality Regarding End-Of-Life Decisions
- Contagious, Life threatening Diseases
- Court Ordered Disclosure
- Minimal Disclosure
Information Shared With Others
- Subordinates
- Interdisciplinary Teams
- Confidential Settings
- Third-Party Payers
- Transmitting Confidential Information
- Deceased Clients
Group and Families
- Group Work
- Couples and Family Counseling
Clients Lacking Capacity to Give Informed Consent
- Responsibility to Clients
- Responsibility to Parents and Legal Guardians
- Release of Confidential Information
Records and Documentation
- Creating and Maintaining Records and Documentation
- Confidentiality of Records and Documentation
- Permission to Record
- Permission to Observe
- Client Access
- Assistance With Records
- Disclosure or Transfer
- Storage and Disposal After Termination
- Reasonable Precautions
Case Consultation
- Respect for Privacy
- Disclosure of Confidential Information
References
Exceptions to confidentiality for mental health providers. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:O8UCw6U1-mcJ:supp.apa.org/books/Essential-Ethics-for-Psychologists/exceptions.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Confidentiality. (2009). Retrieved from https://sielearning.tafensw.edu.au/MCS/CHCAOD402A/chcaod402a_csw/knowledge/confidentiality/confidentiality.htm
ACA code of ethics. (2014). American counseling association. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf.
Confidentiality. (2009). Retrieved from https://sielearning.tafensw.edu.au/MCS/CHCAOD402A/chcaod402a_csw/knowledge/confidentiality/confidentiality.htm
ACA code of ethics. (2014). American counseling association. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf.