THE BOUNDARIES OF CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY: A REFLECTION ON THE TARASOFF CASE AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Keywords:
Tarasoff, Duty to Warn, Duty to Protect, Client-Centered Confidentiality, Risk-Managed Ethics.Abstract
Confidentiality is a fundamental principle in psychological practice that serves to maintain trust and the effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship between psychologists and clients. However, this principle is not absolute, as exceptions may arise under certain circumstances, particularly when serious risks to clients or third parties are involved. This article aims to examine narratively the boundaries of confidentiality in psychological practice by emphasizing an analysis of the case Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California and its implications for the principles of duty to warn and duty to protect within the context of modern practice. The method employed is a narrative review with thematic analysis of scholarly literature, books, and relevant professional ethical codes in psychology published between 2021 and 2024, including guidelines issued by the American Psychological Association. The findings indicate that confidentiality in psychology exists within a tension among major ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence, while also being influenced by legal and technological developments. The Tarasoff case represents a significant turning point that shifted the paradigm from client-centered confidentiality toward risk-managed ethics. Furthermore, the study found that the implementation of duty to warn and duty to protect continues to demonstrate variations in interpretation across jurisdictions and has become increasingly complex within the context of digital psychological services. In conclusion, confidentiality in psychology is a dynamic and contextual ethical concept rather than an absolute one. Ethical decision-making regarding breaches of confidentiality requires multidimensional considerations encompassing clinical, legal, cultural, and technological aspects.
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