Question

When clients have a history of criminal activity, in many circumstances counselors and therapists are bound to keep that history confidential. A client who reveals to a licensed psychologist that she robbed a liquor store last week, for example, probably has a right to have that information kept confidential unless she injured a child or elder or otherwise acted in ways that come under the mandated reporting laws. How do you feel about keeping such information confidential?

Answer 1

In a professional relationship the confidentiality is one of the principles that have to be maintained at any cost otherwise it will be breach of trust and in fact against the very values of social work. The confidentiality helps even the hard criminals to mend their ways and become dignified citizens in a society, most of the relapse into the criminal world or substance abuse takes place when society harasses them or their confidentiality is violated. The client has robbed the liquor store should be kept confidential to certain extent because if the behavior or his criminal attitude is not changed then she may go to any other extreme crime .The professional should do his duty within the principles of law and if the law demands that she should disclose the information which is in the interests of general public then the information must be revealed and if not then the confidentiality should be upheld.