Question

Aparna went to her college counsellor with her problem that was causing her sleepless nights. Later, she realized that the counsellor had shared the details with the staff of the college. Aparna's faith was completely shaken, and she resolved never to trust any counsellor. Which one of the following ethics has been breached by the counsellor?

• A. Informed consent
• B. Confidentiality of the client
• C. Respect for human rights and dignity
• D. Professional competence

Hint:

Confidentiality is about keeping secrets. If a scenario involves a therapist sharing a client's private information without permission, the answer is almost always a breach of confidentiality.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ethical principles are fundamental guidelines for professional psychologists and counsellors. We need to identify which principle was violated in the scenario.

Informed consent: Ensuring clients understand the nature of the therapy, its risks, and their rights before they agree to participate.
Confidentiality: The professional's obligation to keep information shared by the client private and not disclose it to others without the client's explicit permission (except in specific legal situations, like a threat of harm).
Respect for human rights and dignity: A broad principle of valuing each person and protecting their rights.
Professional competence: The obligation to provide services only within the boundaries of one's expertise and training.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The counsellor "shared the details with the staff of the college" without Aparna's permission. This is a direct violation of the principle of confidentiality. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship, as it builds the trust necessary for the client to speak openly. By breaching this trust, the counsellor violated a core ethical duty. While it also shows a lack of respect (C) and perhaps incompetence (D), the most direct and specific ethical breach described is that of confidentiality.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The ethical principle that has been breached is the Confidentiality of the client.