Confidentiality is an important aspect of counseling. What you share with a counselor is confidential. That is, the counselor is legally and ethically required to maintain confidentiality so as to provide a safe, trusting working environment. To disclose any information shared in the course of receiving services, the counselor must obtain written permission from the client.

There are specific situations, however, when the counselor is required by law to breach confidentiality; when there is a possibility the client may harm himself/herself, harm someone else, commit a crime, or when subpoenaed by a court of law.