Your Privacy Matters: Understanding Confidentiality in the Evaluation Process

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the therapist-client relationship. It is the therapist's ethical responsibility to protect their client's privacy and to maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of their work. In this blog post, we will explore the ethical standards that therapists must adhere to when it comes to confidentiality.

What is confidentiality?

Confidentiality is the protection of a client's personal information and privacy. It is the responsibility of the therapist to ensure that any information shared during therapy sessions or other interactions with the client is kept confidential. This means that the therapist must not disclose any information about the client or their therapy to anyone else without the client's explicit consent.

Confidentiality is crucial in therapy because it allows clients to feel safe and secure in sharing their thoughts and feelings with their therapist. If clients do not trust that their therapist will maintain confidentiality, they may be less likely to open up and share their deepest concerns, which can hinder the therapeutic process. When we work with clients in immigration evaluations, we make sure that our client’s know this. Comfort and privacy is extremely important to us, as we know this process can be difficult for most.

Ethical Standards of Therapist Confidentiality

Therapists are bound by ethical standards that require them to maintain strict confidentiality. These standards are set forth by professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the American Counseling Association (ACA).

According to the APA's Ethics Code, psychologists must "respect the confidentiality of those with whom they work" and "disclose confidential information obtained in their work only with the informed consent of the individual or individuals involved." Similarly, the NASW Code of Ethics states that social workers must "respect and protect the confidentiality of clients" and "obtain client consent before disclosing confidential information."

The ACA's Code of Ethics emphasizes that confidentiality is a core value of the counseling profession, and counselors must "make every effort to protect client confidentiality." It further specifies that counselors should only disclose confidential information in situations where there is a clear and imminent danger to the client or others, or where required by law.

Exceptions to Confidentiality

While confidentiality is an essential aspect of therapy, there are certain situations in which therapists may be required to breach confidentiality. These exceptions typically involve situations where the client or someone else is at risk of harm.

For example, if a client expresses suicidal thoughts or intentions, the therapist may need to disclose this information to appropriate medical personnel to ensure the client's safety. Additionally, if a therapist becomes aware that an underage client is being abused, or a client poses a threat to others, they may be required by law to report this information to the appropriate authorities.

Therapists must be transparent with their clients about the limits of confidentiality and any situations in which they may need to breach confidentiality. This transparency helps to build trust between the therapist and the client and ensures that the client is fully informed about the nature of their therapy. During the appointment for an immigration evaluation, we cover this in detail with our clients. We like to say that we will not share any information without your knowledge, and make sure that you know we are bound by law to share some information to keep you or others safe.

Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of the therapist-client relationship. It is the therapist's ethical responsibility to protect their client's privacy and maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of their work. Ethical standards set forth by professional organizations require therapists to maintain confidentiality and disclose confidential information only with the client's informed consent or in situations where there is clear and imminent danger to the client or others. By adhering to these ethical standards, therapists can create a safe and secure environment in which clients feel comfortable sharing their deepest concerns and emotions.