Assignment 3: Confidentiality And Informed Consent
Confidentiality and Informed Consent
Sara M. Covey
PSY 305
March 6, 2015
Dr. Sheila Rapa
Confidentiality and Informed Consent Confidentiality in all fields of social work is paramount. Confidentiality gives clients comfort knowing that they can speak freely and engage more fully in the counseling and treatment processes if they believe that their privacy is being safeguarded. (Appelbaum, Kapen, Walters, Lidz, & Roth, 1984; Miller & Thelen, 1986). This ultimately makes counseling sessions more productive. Practitioners who breach the confidentiality with their client can lose any trust they have gained up to that point. This breach of trust can lead to early termination of treatment, poor treatment outcomes, and malpractice suits. (Kagle & Kopels, 1994). There are circumstances where therapists may have to breach confidentiality. In recent years they have seen their ability to protect confidentiality diminish by increased access to information in records, mandated child abuse …show more content…
S., Kapen, G., Walters, B., Lidz, C., & Roth, L. H. (1984). Confidentiality: An empirical test of the utilitarian perspective. Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, 12, 109-115.
Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2001). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (5th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Fisher, Ph.D., C. B., & Oransky, M. (2002). Informed Consent to Psychotherapy and the American Psychological Association 's Ethics Code. National Register of Health Service Psychologists,
Kagle, J. D., & Kopels, S. (1994). CONFIDENTIALITY AFTER TARASOFF. Health & Social Work, 19(3), 217-222.
Miller, D. J., & Thelen, M. H. (1986). Knowledge and beliefs about confidentiality in psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 17, 15-19.
Wikipedia: Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California. (2009). Retrieved from
Sara M. Covey
PSY 305
March 6, 2015
Dr. Sheila Rapa
Confidentiality and Informed Consent Confidentiality in all fields of social work is paramount. Confidentiality gives clients comfort knowing that they can speak freely and engage more fully in the counseling and treatment processes if they believe that their privacy is being safeguarded. (Appelbaum, Kapen, Walters, Lidz, & Roth, 1984; Miller & Thelen, 1986). This ultimately makes counseling sessions more productive. Practitioners who breach the confidentiality with their client can lose any trust they have gained up to that point. This breach of trust can lead to early termination of treatment, poor treatment outcomes, and malpractice suits. (Kagle & Kopels, 1994). There are circumstances where therapists may have to breach confidentiality. In recent years they have seen their ability to protect confidentiality diminish by increased access to information in records, mandated child abuse …show more content…
S., Kapen, G., Walters, B., Lidz, C., & Roth, L. H. (1984). Confidentiality: An empirical test of the utilitarian perspective. Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, 12, 109-115.
Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2001). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (5th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Fisher, Ph.D., C. B., & Oransky, M. (2002). Informed Consent to Psychotherapy and the American Psychological Association 's Ethics Code. National Register of Health Service Psychologists,
Kagle, J. D., & Kopels, S. (1994). CONFIDENTIALITY AFTER TARASOFF. Health & Social Work, 19(3), 217-222.
Miller, D. J., & Thelen, M. H. (1986). Knowledge and beliefs about confidentiality in psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 17, 15-19.
Wikipedia: Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California. (2009). Retrieved from