Legal issues in psychology in Ireland: Aspects of confidentiality and the clinical relationship

Abstract

This article deals with certain legal aspects of confidentiality in the clinical relationship between a psychologist and his or her client. The article emphasises that trust and confidence lies at the heart of such a relationship. It then argues that the relationship has certain implications for the information the client exchanges with the psychologist. This information is confidential. The information cannot be disclosed to third parties, subject to certain exceptions. The article, then, examines these exceptions and pays particular attention to the legal and ethical considerations that are at stake when a psychologist is called upon to disclose confidential information. It concludes that the ethical and legal framework provides the psychologist with some guidelines within which the psychologist must come to an honest and considered decision whether or not to disclose information to others.