Table of Contents
When can confidentiality be broken in Counselling?
The counsellor must break confidentiality in three cases involving the law being broken: terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering. Rory explains these areas.
Under what circumstances can confidentiality be breached?
Breaking confidentiality is done when it is in the best interest of the patient or public, required by law or if the patient gives their consent to the disclosure. Patient consent to disclosure of personal information is not necessary when there is a requirement by law or if it is in the public interest.
Can a therapist break confidentiality if they suspect abuse?
This is one of the few laws that all states have that mandates therapists to break confidentiality. If a therapist finds out—or even strongly suspects—that a child is being abused or neglected (or that they might be abused in the future) they must report it to the child protective services agency in their state.
What happens when you talk to a therapist about abuse?
The therapist will ask concrete questions and use his judgment and his relationship with you to determine what might be done. If, in the course of therapy, you say something to your therapist that lets her know that there is suspected elder or child abuse happening, the therapist must break confidentiality and report it.
What is emotional abuse in therapy?
By abuse I mean intentional and unintentional conduct by therapists towards their clients that is not in the best interests of the client. Abuse can be of a sexual and emotional nature. Although situations of sexual abuse are becoming more visible to the public and therapists are being prosecuted as a result, emotional abuse has been hidden.
What is confidentiality in therapy?
Confidentiality is the assurance that the information a therapist receives about their client will not be shared with anyone else without the client’s consent. Therapists have both a legal and ethical obligation to keep information about their clients confidential.