When a client discloses information in a group setting, how should confidentiality be handled?

• A. Share only with consent and within professional group boundaries; avoid disclosing others' information.
• B. Share with all group members to promote transparency.
• C. Disclose to the client's family for support.
• D. Do not document anything to protect privacy.

Answer: (A)

Confidentiality in group counseling means protecting what a client shares and sharing only with people who have a legitimate professional need to know and with the client's explicit consent. In a group, this translates to keeping disclosures within the group context and not divulging others' information without permission. A group facilitator may share necessary details with co-facilitators or treatment team as allowed by policy, but you should not disclose a fellow group member’s disclosures to the rest of the group or to family members without consent. Clear confidentiality expectations are set at intake, and members are asked to respect one another’s privacy. Documentation should follow agency policies and legal/ethical requirements, including any mandatory reporting when applicable. So the best approach is to share information only with consent and within professional group boundaries, and to protect the privacy of other group members.