Which statement best describes the difference between confidentiality and privilege?

• A. It is illegal to disclose any information in therapy.
• B. Privileged communication applies only to family records.
• C. Confidentiality is a general legal obligation; privilege is a legal right to prevent certain disclosures in court.
• D. Confidentiality only applies to email communications.

Answer: (C)

Confidentiality is the ongoing duty to protect a client’s private information in general, allowing disclosure only under specific limits (such as client consent, mandated reporting, or safety concerns). Privilege, on the other hand, is a legal protection that prevents certain disclosures from being forced in court—it's about whether the therapist must reveal information during legal proceedings. So, confidentiality is the broad ethical/legal obligation to keep information private, while privilege is a courtroom-based right that can bar certain disclosures.

That’s why the correct statement is that confidentiality is a general legal obligation and privilege is a legal right to prevent certain disclosures in court. The other options misrepresent the scope and application: disclosures aren’t illegal in every case (there are allowed exceptions), privilege isn’t limited to family records, and confidentiality isn’t restricted to email communications.