Confidentiality

U.S. clinicians are required by state and federal laws to protect the confidentiality and privacy of their clients. Clinicians may not release any information about a client without the explicit consent of the client. Clinicians may not verify whether a client is in treatment or not without the explicit consent of the client.

Confidentiality may and/or must be broken by a clinician under the following circumstances:

• A clinician learns about an instance of child abuse, and the victim is currently under the age of 18.
• A clinician has reasonable evidence to suspect that a client may harm him/herself or someone else.
• A clinician has reasonable evidence to suspect that a client is unable to adequately care for him/herself and may experience harm as a result of the inability to care for self.
• A clinician has received a court-order requiring the clinician to submit clinical information on a client.

In any of the above situations, a clinician may need to contact the proper authorities or other relevant parties in order to prevent an individual from harm or in order to comply with U.S. State Laws.

To find out more about federal privacy laws, visit the HIPAA website.