Which statement about confidentiality limits is true?

Prepare for the LPCC Law and Ethics Test 2. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations. Enhance your understanding of ethics and legal standards for effective counseling practice.

Confidentiality is not absolute. In practice, counselors must protect client privacy, but there are defined limits that allow or require disclosure to protect safety and comply with the law. The most important limits involve mandatory reporting of abuse or neglect (for children, elders, or dependent adults) and duties to warn or protect when a client poses a serious risk to others or to themselves. Legal processes such as subpoenas or court orders can also compel disclosure, and disclosures can occur when the client signs a release of information. While clients can authorize sharing, they cannot override these mandatory or safety-related disclosures. Statements claiming confidentiality is absolute, that only parents can access records, or that clients control all disclosures do not fit with these ethical and legal safeguards.