What is the difference between confidentiality and privileged communication?

• A. Confidentiality is the legal protection against disclosure; privileged is professional obligation
• B. Confidentiality is the professional obligation; privileged communication is a legal protection against disclosure in court
• C. Both mean the same thing
• D. Privileged communication allows disclosure without consent

Answer: (B)

Confidentiality and privileged communication operate at different levels. Confidentiality is the therapist’s ethical duty to keep what a client shares private, releasing information only with the client's consent or when there are legally mandated exceptions. Privileged communication is a legal protection that can prevent those disclosures from being admitted in court, defined by statutes and rules that vary by jurisdiction. In everyday practice, confidentiality covers the treatment relationship and what happens in sessions, while privilege matters only in legal proceedings and can be waived by the client or by specific legal exceptions. Understanding the difference helps clinicians know when information may be shared (with consent or due to mandated reporting) and when it cannot be used in court due to privilege.