Which statement should be included in an intake disclosure about confidentiality to address legal and ethical duties?

• A. Confidentiality has no limits and cannot be breached
• B. The client may revoke consent at any time
• C. The therapist will not share information under any circumstances
• D. Limits of confidentiality and mandated reporting obligations

Answer: (D)

Confidentiality is not absolute; therapists must be transparent about the boundaries created by law and ethics. The best statement in an intake disclosure is the one that clearly lays out the limits of confidentiality and the mandated reporting obligations. This informs the client when information must be shared, with whom, and under what circumstances (for example, cases of abuse, imminent risk of harm, or other legally required disclosures). Including this helps ensure informed consent and sets realistic expectations from the start, aligning practice with professional and legal duties.

The other options misrepresent confidentiality in various ways: one wrongly asserts there are no limits, another implies consent can be revoked but doesn’t address duties or disclosures, and the last falsely claims information will never be shared under any circumstances.