Introducing limits of confidentiality in real-life consultations: psychologist-driven or client-centred?
Article
Article Title | Introducing limits of confidentiality in real-life consultations: psychologist-driven or client-centred? |
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ERA Journal ID | 30334 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Lamont-Mills, Andrea (Author) and Christensen, Steven A. (Author) |
Journal Title | Australian Journal of Counselling Psychology |
Number of Pages | 25 |
Year | 2010 |
Place of Publication | Melbourne, Australia |
ISSN | 1443-9697 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258022437_Introducing_Limits_of_Confidentiality_in_Real-Life_Consultations_Psychologist-driven_or_Client-centred?ev=prf_pub |
Abstract | The Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics explicitly states that clients are to be informed about the legal limits of confidentiality prior to engaging in any psychological relationship. Maintaining and respecting client confidentiality is also seen as a major professional obligation. Despite this, little research has examined how limits of confidentiality is introduced, discussed, and oriented to in real-life psychological consultations. An initial consultation between a client and a provisionally registered psychologist was used to explore how a psychologist and client interactively managed limits of confidentiality. Using a discursive psychological framework, analysis revealed that while the psychologist complied with the ethical obligation of informing the client of the limits of confidentially before counselling began, the way in which the psychologist enacted this restricted the client's opportunities to ask questions or seek clarification about these limits. Further, when the psychologist explicitly asked for client confirmation of understanding and acceptance of these limits, what the client confirmed and accepted appears unclear. Given that breaches of confidentiality are Registration Board matters, this lack of clarity and limiting of client interaction is concerning. |
Keywords | code of ethics; discursive psychology; ethical issues |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 480499. Law in context not elsewhere classified |
500107. Professional ethics | |
520399. Clinical and health psychology not elsewhere classified | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Centre for Rural and Remote Area Health |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q27q0/introducing-limits-of-confidentiality-in-real-life-consultations-psychologist-driven-or-client-centred
2004
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