Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) Practice Exam

Which scenario should prompt disclosure of information?

When the client asks for a casual conversation outside the session

When the client is late for appointment

When the client speaks another language without interpreter

When there is suicidal, homicidal, or abuse risk

In practice, confidentiality is overridden when there is a real risk of harm or abuse. The important obligation is to protect safety, which can require disclosing information to appropriate parties or authorities. When there is suicidal or homicidal risk, or there is abuse, you must disclose as needed by law and ethics to prevent harm and to coordinate safety and treatment. The other scenarios—having a casual conversation outside the session, a client being late, or language access needs—do not inherently require breaching confidentiality. They relate to boundaries, attendance, and communication needs, which should be handled within the therapeutic relationship without disclosing confidential information.