What is confidentiality and mandated reporting?
Confidentiality is the counselor's legal duty to keep client information private, with mandatory exceptions when a client poses danger to themselves or others or when abuse of a minor, vulnerable adult, or elder is suspected.
Counselors in South Carolina are bound by confidentiality, meaning they must protect client information shared during sessions. This privacy forms the foundation of trust necessary for effective counseling. However, confidentiality is not absolute. Counselors are mandated reporters under state law, required to breach confidentiality in specific situations where safety is at stake.
Mandated reporting duties apply when a counselor has reasonable suspicion that a minor, vulnerable adult, or elder is being abused or neglected. In Columbia and across South Carolina, counselors must report suspected abuse to the Department of Social Services or law enforcement. Additionally, counselors must break confidentiality if a client discloses an intent to harm themselves or another person, or if a client reveals they are a danger to the community.
Understanding these limits is critical for anyone seeking counseling. Clients should know that while their counselor will keep their information confidential, certain disclosures will trigger a legal obligation to report. This protects vulnerable populations while preserving the counseling relationship in most circumstances. Counselors are trained to discuss these boundaries at the start of treatment so clients can make informed decisions about what they share.