The duty to warn.

Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association,  July, 2002  by Gross, Bruce

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The issue of confidentiality is seldom more confusing than when considered in the context of client dangerousness. When during the scope of therapy a client admits to a crime committed in the past (with the exceptions of child abuse, dependent abuse and elder abuse), the therapist is legally and ethically bound to maintain confidentiality.

On the other hand, when a client's statements suggest that he or she may commit a serious crime in the future, the therapist is legally and ethically bound to break confidentiality. While that delineation seems simple and clear in theory, it is ...

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