This research review will explore existing theories on confidentiality and privileged information. The rights of both minors and their parents with respects to confidentiality in the therapeutic scope will be examined. Mandated reporting and the ethical dilemmas that arise with counselors will be defined and reviewed. Duty to warn, the Tarasof v. Board of Trustees and legal precedents, and counseling minors and parental rights will be defined and reviewed. Maintaining disclosure of client's rights under law will also be reviewed and contrasted for ethical dilemmas. Finally, a brief overview of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) will be reviewed. .
Understanding Confidentiality & Privileged Information.
Counselors work with a wide array of issues that clients present, and each client has his or her own unique needs. Counselors have an ethical responsibility to provide client care with respects to both legal and ethical guidelines. Counselors are mandated reporters that are responsible for knowing and explaining such guidelines to their clients. Ethical guidelines are developed by groups such as the American Psychological Association, American School Counselor Association, National Association of Social Workers, etc. Legal guidelines are usually governed by both state and government. .
Confidentiality and privileged information refer to a counselor's obligation to protect a client's privacy or disclosure of communication.(Corey, Corey, and Callanan, 2011) identify the distinction between confidentiality and privileged communication. Confidentiality, which is rooted in a client's right to privacy, is at the core of effective therapy. Privileged communication is a legal concept that generally bars the disclosure of confidential communications in a legal proceeding (Corey, Corey, and Callanan, 2011). .
Ultimately, counselors are responsible at a micro, mezzo, and macro level for providing client services.
