EPPP Psychology

Category - Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues

If a counselor is aware that a client is engaging in using illegal drugs, is the counselor bound by law to notify the proper authorities of this activity?
  1. No, the counselor should try to get in on the action.
  2. No, the only way the counselor should break confidentiality is if the client’s activities will likely do harm to himself or herself, another person, or property.
  3. Yes, any illegal activity should be reported to the proper authorities.
  4. Yes, but it should only be done anonymously so as not to lose the trust of the client.
Explanation
Answer: B - If a counselor is aware that a client is engaging in illegal drug use, the counselor is not bound by law to notify the proper authorities or this activity. The counselor should only break confidentiality and notify the proper authorities if the client’s activities will likely do harm to him or herself, another person, or property. Once a client trusts his or her counselor, the counselor might ask if he or she would like help with the drug issue. The counselor might cite health, financial, or legal reasons as incentive for the client to kick his or her habit.
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