Which practice involves not disclosing client information without permission?

Confidentiality is the practice that involves not disclosing client information without permission. It is a fundamental ethical principle in the fields of counseling and rehabilitation, ensuring that clients can trust their counselors to protect their personal and sensitive information. This trust is essential for building a strong therapeutic relationship, allowing clients to open up and share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or breach of privacy.

Confidentiality not only protects the client’s privacy but also aligns with legal and ethical standards governing professional practice. It dictates that any information shared by the client must remain within the counselor-client relationship unless the client has given explicit consent to share specific information with others or there are legal obligations to disclose information in situations like imminent harm.

While accountability, transparency, and consent are all important concepts in therapeutic practices, they do not specifically address the principle of protecting client information from unauthorized disclosure as confidentiality does. Accountability refers to the responsibility of professionals to act in the best interest of their clients, while transparency relates to making the processes and decisions clear to clients. Consent involves gaining permission from a client, but confidentiality specifically emphasizes the protection of the information shared.