With regard to releasing confidential information about a client, which statement 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 the default, but it isn’t absolute. There are defined situations where disclosure is permitted or required, and in those cases you either obtain the client's written authorization or follow legal/ethical mandates. The statement that authorization from the client is needed in certain situations best captures this reality. In practice, you typically seek a signed release to share information with other professionals involved in treatment, or you disclose only when a legal requirement applies (such as mandated reporting, a court order, or a subpoena with proper safeguards). You would not release confidential information simply because someone asks, nor simply because you believe it’s in the client’s best interests; those factors do not override the need for proper authorization or legal obligation.