Yes, confidentiality is a cornerstone of counseling. In general, your conversations with your therapist are protected by law and will not be shared without your written permission.

However, there are important exceptions where a therapist is required to break confidentiality to protect safety:

• If there’s suspected abuse of a child, dependent adult, or elder
• If someone is at imminent risk of serious harm to themselves or others
• If required by a legal court order

In these cases, the therapist must follow legal reporting requirements.