There are times in life when we need to speak with someone in complete confidence—times when we may feel ashamed, afraid, or uncertain about what we’ve done, whether we’re in trouble, and what to do next. We might instinctively turn to a family member or close friend, someone who knows us well and loves us unconditionally. In some situations, we may have concerns about sharing information with those closest to us. They might react with hurt, anger, fear, judgment, or distrust. Alternatively, we might want a type of help or guidance that only a specific type of helping professional may be able to provide—for instance, an attorney for legal advice, a mental health professional (MHP) for counseling or emotional support, or a clergyperson for spiritual guidance and support. But how do we know whether we can trust such a helping professional to maintain our confidence? This post explores whether and when specific types of helping professionals have a duty to maintain confidentiality, and when they may be ethically or legally required to share information with others.

Confidentiality refers to an ethical duty requiring certain professionals to maintain the privacy of information shared with them in a confidential relationship (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014; American Psychological Association [APA], 2017; National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 2021). Attorneys, MHPs, and clergy are among those professionals who have such an ethical obligation. The purpose of such an obligation is to provide people with safe places........

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