National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

Which of the following best describes the concept of duty to warn?

1. Protecting the client's privacy over all else

2. Informing law enforcement about a client’s health status

3. Breaching confidentiality to protect potential victims of threats

4. Keeping all session details strictly between the counselor and the client

The correct answer is: Breaching confidentiality to protect potential victims of threats

The concept of duty to warn is primarily concerned with the ethical and legal obligation of counselors to breach confidentiality when there is a credible threat of harm to an identifiable individual or group. This duty arises from the principle that the safety and welfare of potential victims take precedence over the duty to maintain client confidentiality. When a counselor determines that a client poses a serious risk of harm to another person, the responsibility to warn those who may be endangered becomes paramount. This means that, rather than keeping all session details confidential, the counselor must take appropriate action, which could include informing potential victims or alerting law enforcement. The focus here is on preventing harm and protecting the public, underscoring the ethical responsibility to prioritize life and safety. Other choices reflect different aspects of confidentiality and ethical practice but do not accurately capture the essence of the duty to warn. Protecting a client's privacy is critical, but not at the expense of allowing harm to occur. Informing law enforcement about a client's health status without a direct threat does not encapsulate the duty to warn in the context of imminent danger. Keeping all session details strictly between the counselor and the client disregards the ethical requirement to breach confidentiality in specific, life-threatening situations.