Client confidentiality is a core ethical responsibility for therapists. Regardless of the client’s public status, the therapist must maintain confidentiality and decline any requests for information without the client's consent, as required by law and ethical standards.
Ethically, therapists must ensure that termination is handled responsibly, including providing referrals and facilitating a smooth transition to another therapist. The goal is to minimize harm to the client by ensuring continuity of care, even if the therapeutic relationship needs to end.
Obtaining informed consent is not just about having the client sign a form. The therapist must ensure that the client fully understands the information provided. It's the therapist’s responsibility to engage the client in a discussion and clarify any questions the client might have.
Therapists have a responsibility to practice within the boundaries of their competence and scope of practice. In this case, the ethical response is to refer the client to a specialist who is better equipped to handle the treatment of the neurological disorder.
Therapists are mandated reporters in California and are legally required to report any knowledge or suspicion of child abuse to the appropriate authorities (such as CPS). Failing to report could result in legal consequences for the therapist.
