When counselors are ordered by a court to release confidential information, what should they do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Counselors have an ethical obligation to protect client confidentiality, but may be required by law to release information if ordered to do so by a court. In this case, counselors should make efforts to limit the amount of information disclosed to only what is absolutely necessary in order to comply with the court order. Refusing to comply with the court order may result in legal consequences, while turning over all records to the court without limitation could be a breach of client confidentiality. Asking office staff to release information is also not sufficient, as the counselor still has the ethical responsibility to ensure that confidentiality is maintained to the fullest extent possible.

When Counselors Are Ordered by a Court to Release Confidential