A client tells you that you can be trusted and they want to share something with you but does not want you to tell anyone else. Your best response would be:

A client tells you that you can be trusted and they want to share something with you but does not want you to tell anyone else. Your best response would be:

• A. Agree not to tell others.
• B. Say nothing, allowing the client to go on talking.
• C. Refuse to agree to request.
• D. Let client know that you cannot promise what they asks and state reasons.

Answer: (D)

Confidentiality has limits in psychiatric care, and addressing them directly with the client helps build trust while protecting safety and legal/ethical obligations. The best response is to tell the client that you cannot promise not to share what they tell you and to explain the reasons why. This communicates transparency about the boundaries of confidentiality and sets realistic expectations. In practice, you reassure the client that information will be shared only with those who need to know for their care or as required by law or policy (for example, when there is risk of harm to self or others, or when abuse must be reported). You should discuss what would trigger disclosure and obtain any consent when appropriate, and you can discuss how you would document and limit disclosures to the minimum necessary. This approach preserves trust by being honest about limits while still prioritizing safety and professional responsibilities.

Confidentiality has limits in psychiatric care, and addressing them directly with the client helps build trust while protecting safety and legal/ethical obligations. The best response is to tell the client that you cannot promise not to share what they tell you and to explain the reasons why. This communicates transparency about the boundaries of confidentiality and sets realistic expectations.

In practice, you reassure the client that information will be shared only with those who need to know for their care or as required by law or policy (for example, when there is risk of harm to self or others, or when abuse must be reported). You should discuss what would trigger disclosure and obtain any consent when appropriate, and you can discuss how you would document and limit disclosures to the minimum necessary. This approach preserves trust by being honest about limits while still prioritizing safety and professional responsibilities.