Confidentiality means clients can share sensitive information and must trust counselors not to disclose without permission. Which term is this describing?

• A. Beneficence
• B. Confidentiality
• C. Fidelity
• D. Veracity

Answer: (B)

Confidentiality is the term described. In counseling, confidentiality means clients can share sensitive information within the therapeutic relationship with the expectation that the counselor will protect those disclosures and not reveal them without permission. This trust is foundational for honest exploration and progress in therapy. Exceptions exist when there are safety or legal requirements, such as risk of harm to self or others or mandated reporting, but the default is to keep what the client shares private.

Beneficence refers to promoting the client's well-being and doing good in therapy. Fidelity means being loyal and true to the client's trust and to professional commitments. Veracity involves honesty in communication. While these principles guide ethical practice, they describe different obligations than confidentiality, which specifically centers on protecting the privacy of what clients share.