Which statement best describes how confidentiality should be handled in CCAR practice?

• A. Share client information freely with any third party to speed up recovery.
• B. Maintain confidentiality and only disclose information with client consent or when legally required.
• C. Post client progress on social media to attract resources.
• D. Discuss client specifics with other clients to foster peer learning.

Answer: (B)

In CCAR practice, protecting a client’s confidentiality is essential to build trust and support honest engagement in recovery. The best approach is to maintain confidentiality and only disclose information with the client’s consent or when there is a legally or ethically required reason to do so. This means using a written release that specifies what can be shared, with whom, and for what purpose, and respecting the client’s autonomy to control their information. There are standard, limited exceptions: if there is imminent risk of harm to the client or others, or if laws require reporting or disclosure (such as certain safety or protection statutes or a subpoena). Outside of these bounds, sharing information broadly or publicly—such as with unrelated third parties, on social media, or among other clients—undermines trust and can violate ethical and legal standards.