Which statement best reflects the ACA code of ethics regarding the privacy of current and prospective clients?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement best reflects the ACA code of ethics regarding the privacy of current and prospective clients?

Confidentiality and privacy are fundamental in counseling ethics. Counselors protect a client’s private information and disclose it only with proper consent or when there is sound legal or ethical justification to do so. This reflects the standard that disclosures should occur only with informed consent or under narrowly defined, legitimate reasons such as safeguarding, safety, or meeting legal obligations. In practice with current or prospective clients, you discuss limits of confidentiality upfront and obtain authorization before sharing information, except in situations where disclosure is ethically or legally required. Disclosing information without consent—even if it seems beneficial to the client—undermines trust and violates the obligation to protect privacy. Treating confidentiality as optional and sharing information with insurers without consent also contradicts the ethical requirements for consent and justified disclosure.

Confidentiality and privacy are fundamental in counseling ethics. Counselors protect a client’s private information and disclose it only with proper consent or when there is sound legal or ethical justification to do so.

This reflects the standard that disclosures should occur only with informed consent or under narrowly defined, legitimate reasons such as safeguarding, safety, or meeting legal obligations. In practice with current or prospective clients, you discuss limits of confidentiality upfront and obtain authorization before sharing information, except in situations where disclosure is ethically or legally required.

Disclosing information without consent—even if it seems beneficial to the client—undermines trust and violates the obligation to protect privacy. Treating confidentiality as optional and sharing information with insurers without consent also contradicts the ethical requirements for consent and justified disclosure.

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