CLINICAL EXAM · VALUES & ETHICS (36%) · SAMPLE LESSON

Confidentiality, Duty to Protect & Dual Relationships

A self-paced written lesson with 20 original practice questions and full rationales.

This sample is Lesson I-04 of the full course (for enrolled students).

Where this fits in the 2026 Clinical outline. Values and Ethics is the largest content area on the Clinical exam (36%, about 40 of the 110 scored questions). This lesson covers confidentiality and informed consent (competency IA), and boundaries, dual relationships, mandatory reporting, and duty to warn (competency IB).

1. Three terms the exam expects you to keep straight

Confidentiality is the social worker's ethical and legal duty not to reveal information learned in the professional relationship. It belongs to the professional as an obligation.

Privileged communication is a legal rule that protects clients from having their confidential information disclosed in court or other legal proceedings. The privilege belongs to the client. The client can waive it, and the social worker usually asserts it on the client's behalf. In Jaffee v. Redmond (1996), the U.S. Supreme Court recognized a psychotherapist–patient privilege in federal courts and applied it to licensed clinical social workers.

Privacy is the client's broader right to control who has access to information about them, and to keep personal matters from being intruded on. Social workers should not ask for private information unless it is needed for services or research.

Exam tip: Questions about a subpoena or testimony usually test privilege. Questions about telling family, employers, or colleagues usually test confidentiality.

2. Informed consent: talk about the limits early

Clients cannot meaningfully consent to services if they do not know what will and will not stay private. The NASW Code (Standards 1.03 and 1.07) tells social workers to discuss the nature of confidentiality and its limits with clients as early as possible in the relationship, and again as needed. That conversation usually covers:

Use plain language and check understanding. When a client lacks capacity, get permission from an appropriate third party and still seek the client's assent as far as possible.

3. When confidentiality has limits

The Code's general rule is that social workers may disclose confidential information with valid client consent. Without consent, disclosure is justified only for compelling professional reasons. The standard example is preventing "serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm" to the client or to others (NASW Standard 1.07(c)). Even then, the social worker should:

  1. Disclose only the minimum information necessary to reach the purpose.
  2. Disclose only to the people who need it (the potential victim, law enforcement, crisis services).
  3. Tell the client, when feasible and safe, before the disclosure is made and about its likely consequences (Standard 1.07(d)).

Common exceptions

Situation What usually applies
Suspected child abuse or neglect Report is mandatory. "Reasonable suspicion" is enough; proof is not required. The client cannot waive it. Report to the child protective agency; do not investigate yourself.
Abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elder or vulnerable adult Mandatory in most U.S. jurisdictions, including financial exploitation. Report to adult protective services.
Serious threat to another person Duty to warn or protect, depending on state law (see Section 4).
Imminent risk of suicide or serious self-harm Disclosure is permitted to keep the client safe.
Subpoena A subpoena is not the same as a court order. Do not ignore it, and do not simply hand over records. Contact the client, assert privilege as appropriate, and consult an attorney.
Court order Comply, but ask the court to limit the scope of the order, seal the records, or review them privately ("in camera") to protect the client (Standard 1.07(j)).
Deceased clients Confidentiality continues after death (Standard 1.07(w)). Release information only as the law allows, for example to a legally authorized personal representative.

HIPAA essentials

Client access to records (NASW Standard 1.08): Give clients reasonable access and help them interpret the record. Limit access only when there is compelling evidence of serious harm, and document your reasoning.

4. Duty to warn and duty to protect

In Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California, the California Supreme Court first held that therapists have a duty to warn (1974). On rehearing in 1976, it broadened this to a duty to use reasonable care to protect an identifiable potential victim from a client's serious threat of violence. States now differ: some require action, some permit disclosure, and a few have no statute. Protective action may include warning the victim, notifying police, hospitalization, or more intensive treatment.

Because these laws vary by state, the exam tests the national ethical standard: disclose without consent only to prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm (NASW Standard 1.07(c)). Disclose the minimum necessary, only to those who need it, and tell the client first when it is safe to do so.

The sequence the exam rewards (FIRST/NEXT questions):

  1. Assess. Clarify the target, the plan, access to means, history of violence, and how imminent the threat is.
  2. Engage the client in safety planning or voluntary steps where it is safe to do so.
  3. Consult with a supervisor or an attorney, if time permits.
  4. Act as the law requires or permits, disclosing only what is necessary.
  5. Document the assessment, consultation, actions, and rationale.

If the danger is immediate, safety comes before everything else, including consultation.

Florida side note (not tested on the ASWB exam): In Florida, §491.0147 lets you warn the potential victim and requires you to notify law enforcement when a client makes a specific threat of serious bodily injury or death to an identified or readily available person and you judge that the client has the apparent intent and ability to act right away. Know this for practice in Florida. On the exam, answer by the national standard above.

5. Boundaries and dual relationships

A dual (multiple) relationship exists when a social worker relates to a client in more than one role, such as professional, social, business, or religious. The relationships can happen at the same time (concurrent) or one after the other (consecutive). Under NASW Standard 1.06(c), social workers should not engage in dual relationships when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. When a dual relationship cannot be avoided, the social worker is responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.

Bright lines in the NASW Code:

Small or rural communities. Some overlap cannot be avoided, and referral is not automatically right when no other provider is nearby. Usually the better answer is to talk openly with the client, agree on how chance encounters will be handled, document, and seek consultation.

Self-disclosure is appropriate only when it serves the client's goals. Keep it brief, and turn the focus back to the client.

Key terms

Exam tips

Summary

Confidentiality is central to clinical work but not absolute. Discuss its limits at the start of services, and keep confidentiality (your duty) separate from privilege (the client's legal right). Mandated reports and serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm justify disclosure, but only of what is necessary, with the client informed when possible. For threats of violence: assess, engage, consult, act, document. Avoid dual relationships that risk harm, manage the unavoidable ones with clear boundaries and consultation, and never have sexual contact with a current client.

Practice questions (20)

All questions are original items written for Sea Change Social Work Prep. They are not taken from or modeled on any ASWB exam item or any commercial prep product. The live ASWB exam uses a mix of three- and four-option questions. These practice items use four options.

Question 1

A clinical social worker in private practice receives a subpoena from the attorney for a client's former spouse in a custody dispute. The subpoena requests the client's complete treatment record. What should the social worker do FIRST?

  • A. Mail a copy of the full record to the attorney before the deadline
  • B. Disregard the subpoena because a judge did not sign it
  • C. Contact the client to discuss the subpoena and the client's wishes about release
  • D. Send the attorney a brief treatment summary instead of the full record
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A subpoena is neither a court order nor client authorization. The first step is to tell the client and learn the client's wishes. The client, or the client's attorney, may choose to assert privilege or move to quash the subpoena. The social worker may also consult an attorney.

  • A is wrong because releasing records on a subpoena alone, without consent or a court order, breaches confidentiality.
  • B is wrong because a subpoena is a legal document that requires a timely response, even if that response is asserting privilege. Ignoring it can expose the social worker to contempt.
  • D is wrong because a summary is still a disclosure of confidential information without the client's consent.

Question 2

After the social worker in Question 1 asserts privilege, a judge orders that the client's records be produced. The client still objects. What is the BEST response?

  • A. Comply with the order while asking the court to limit its scope, seal the records, or review them privately
  • B. Refuse to produce the records because the client's objection outweighs the court order
  • C. Produce the entire record right away to show cooperation with the court
  • D. Remove the most sensitive session notes from the record before producing it
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Under NASW Standard 1.07(j), when a court orders disclosure, the social worker should protect confidentiality as much as possible. This includes asking the court to withdraw or narrow the order, or to keep the records sealed or under seal.

  • B is wrong because defying a valid court order can lead to contempt sanctions. The client's objection does not override it.
  • C is wrong because it gives up the duty to limit the disclosure to what is required.
  • D is wrong because altering a record that is under court order is unethical and may be illegal.

Question 3

During a session, a client with a past assault conviction calmly says he bought a handgun last week and plans to "settle things" with his landlord on Friday when the rent is due. What should the social worker do FIRST?

  • A. Call the landlord right away to warn him
  • B. End treatment because the client is too dangerous to work with
  • C. Document the statement and return to it at the next session
  • D. Explore the statement to clarify the client's intent, plan, and access to means
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The client is in the room and the stated date is days away. The first step is an immediate risk assessment of intent, plan, means, history, and timeline. That assessment shapes every protective step that follows.

  • A is wrong because warning may well become necessary, but acting before assessing skips a critical step and may disclose more than needed.
  • B is wrong because ending treatment abandons the client and removes the main way to manage the risk.
  • C is wrong because waiting until the next session ignores a specific threat that may be imminent.

Question 4

After assessment, the client in Question 3 confirms that he intends to harm the landlord. He refuses to discuss safety planning or giving up the gun, and leaves angry. The social worker's state has a duty-to-protect statute. What should the social worker do NEXT?

  • A. Wait for the client's next appointment to reassess
  • B. Take the protective action the law requires, such as notifying the intended victim and/or law enforcement, disclosing only what is necessary
  • C. Call the client's brother and ask him to keep an eye on the client
  • D. Mail the client a letter reminding him of the limits of confidentiality
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: B

Rationale: There is a specific, credible threat against an identifiable person, the client has access to means, and he has refused voluntary safety steps. That meets the threshold for protective action. Disclose only the minimum necessary, then document.

  • A is wrong because it delays action in the face of serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm.
  • C is wrong because it discloses to someone without a legal basis and does not protect the potential victim.
  • D is wrong because it does nothing to reduce the danger.

Question 5

When is it MOST appropriate for a clinical social worker to discuss the limits of confidentiality with a new client?

  • A. When a situation comes up that may require disclosure
  • B. After rapport is established, usually around the third or fourth session
  • C. At the start of the professional relationship, and again as needed during services
  • D. Only if the client asks about confidentiality
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: C

Rationale: NASW Standards 1.03 and 1.07(e) call for discussing confidentiality and its limits as early as possible and throughout the relationship as needed. This is part of informed consent.

  • A is wrong because by then the client has already shared information without understanding the risks.
  • B is wrong because putting it off for the sake of rapport undermines informed consent.
  • D is wrong because informing the client is the social worker's responsibility, not the client's.

Question 6

A 14-year-old client discloses that her mother's boyfriend has been touching her sexually. She begs the social worker not to tell anyone because she is afraid of being removed from her home. What is the BEST response?

  • A. Explain that the social worker must make a report, talk about what will happen next, and report to child protective services
  • B. Honor the request and develop a safety plan with the client instead
  • C. Meet with the boyfriend to judge whether the allegation is credible
  • D. Wait until the client gives more details so there is enough evidence to report
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Suspected child sexual abuse must be reported, and reasonable suspicion is enough. Being honest with the client, supporting her, and preparing her for what comes next protects both her safety and the relationship.

  • B is wrong because a minor's request cannot waive the legal duty to report, and a safety plan does not replace the protective agency.
  • C is wrong because investigating is the agency's role. Confronting the alleged perpetrator could also put the client at risk.
  • D is wrong because the reporting standard is suspicion, not proof, and waiting leaves the child in danger.

Question 7

At the first meeting of a new therapy group, a member asks whether everything said in the group will stay private. What is the BEST response?

  • A. Assure members that everything said in the group is protected by law
  • B. Explain that the social worker will protect confidentiality within legal limits, ask members to agree to keep information private, and note that the social worker cannot guarantee every member will do so
  • C. Explain that because it is a group, there is no expectation of confidentiality
  • D. Have members sign an agreement making any breach of confidentiality legally enforceable
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: B

Rationale: NASW Standard 1.07(f) directs social workers to ask group members to agree to confidentiality, while telling them that the social worker cannot guarantee all participants will honor it.

  • A is wrong because it overpromises. Other members are not bound the way the professional is, and the usual legal exceptions still apply.
  • C is wrong because confidentiality is still an important group norm and the social worker's own duty remains.
  • D is wrong because a signed agreement among members cannot guarantee confidentiality and suggests protections that may not exist.

Question 8

A managed care reviewer asks for "all session notes" to authorize more sessions. The client has signed a release allowing disclosure to the insurer for payment. What is the MOST appropriate response?

  • A. Send all progress notes and psychotherapy notes
  • B. Refuse to release any information because sessions are confidential
  • C. Tell the reviewer to get a court order
  • D. Provide only what is needed for the authorization decision, such as diagnosis, treatment plan, progress, and functioning
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: D

Rationale: With a valid release, disclosure to a payer is permitted, but the HIPAA minimum necessary standard and NASW guidance to disclose only what is needed both apply.

  • A is wrong because psychotherapy notes need a separate, specific authorization, and sending everything goes beyond what is necessary.
  • B is wrong because the client authorized disclosure for payment, so refusing could block the client's access to care.
  • C is wrong because no court order is needed when there is valid client authorization.

Question 9

A client asks for a copy of her clinical record. The social worker is worried that one section, describing an early assessment, could seriously upset the client. What is the BEST response?

  • A. Offer to review the record with the client to help interpret it, limit access only to material that compelling evidence shows would cause serious harm, and document the reasoning
  • B. Deny the request because the record belongs to the practice
  • C. Give the client a short summary instead of the record, without explaining why
  • D. Release the record after removing any statements the social worker finds uncomfortable
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: A

Rationale: NASW Standard 1.08 supports reasonable client access, help interpreting the record, and limiting access only in exceptional circumstances, with documentation.

  • B is wrong because owning the physical record does not cancel the client's right of access.
  • C is wrong because substituting a summary without telling the client is not transparent and may violate access rights.
  • D is wrong because changing or selectively removing record content to protect the social worker is unethical.

Question 10

A clinical social worker in a small rural town learns that a new client owns the only auto repair shop in town, where the social worker regularly takes her car. The nearest other provider is 90 miles away. What is the BEST approach?

  • A. Refer the client to the provider 90 miles away
  • B. Continue both relationships without discussing it, since the overlap cannot be avoided
  • C. Discuss the overlap with the client, agree on boundaries for contact outside sessions, document, and seek consultation as needed
  • D. Quietly start using a mechanic in another town without discussing it with the client
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When a dual relationship cannot be avoided, NASW Standard 1.06(c) puts the responsibility on the social worker to set clear, appropriate boundaries. Open discussion, documentation, and consultation are the standard of care.

  • A is wrong because the distance creates a serious access barrier, and referral is not required when the overlap can be managed.
  • B is wrong because the social worker has to address the overlap actively rather than ignore it.
  • D is wrong because it avoids the conversation and does not address chance encounters or the client's understanding of the situation.

Question 11

At her final session, a client who has completed treatment brings the social worker a homemade loaf of bread as thanks. The agency has no policy against small gifts. What is the BEST response?

  • A. Politely decline, explaining that accepting any gift is unethical
  • B. Accept the gift graciously, considering what it means to the client and its cultural context, and document it
  • C. Accept the gift and offer the client a free follow-up session in return
  • D. Explore whether the gift reflects the client's unresolved dependence on the social worker
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A small, symbolic gift at termination is a boundary crossing that is usually harmless. Accepting it respects the client and the cultural meaning of the gesture. Documenting it supports transparency.

  • A is wrong because there is no absolute ban on small gifts, and refusing may feel rejecting.
  • C is wrong because it creates a reciprocal exchange and blurs the end of the professional relationship.
  • D is wrong because it pathologizes an ordinary gesture of gratitude at the last session.

Question 12

Eighteen months after ending treatment, a clinical social worker meets a former client at a friend's party. The former client asks her out to dinner. What should the social worker do FIRST?

  • A. Accept, since more than a year has passed since termination
  • B. Accept, but only after getting her supervisor's approval
  • C. Tell the former client they can date once two years have passed
  • D. Decline the invitation and keep professional boundaries
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: D

Rationale: NASW Standard 1.09(c) sets no waiting period after which a romantic or sexual relationship with a former client becomes acceptable. A social worker who does become involved carries the full burden of proving there was no exploitation or harm. Declining also keeps the door open for the client to return to treatment.

  • A is wrong because the passage of time alone does not make the relationship ethical.
  • B is wrong because a supervisor's approval does not remove the risk of harm or the burden the Code places on the social worker.
  • C is wrong because the Code sets no "safe" waiting period, and making that promise creates an expectation of a future relationship.

Question 13

A clinical social worker has noticed several times that a colleague arrives at work smelling of alcohol. The colleague has also recently missed client appointments. What should the social worker do FIRST?

  • A. Report the colleague to the state licensing board
  • B. Let the colleague's clients know they may want to find another provider
  • C. Talk with the colleague privately about the observations and encourage the colleague to seek help
  • D. Take no action, because a colleague's personal problems are not the social worker's responsibility
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: C

Rationale: NASW Standard 2.08 directs social workers who know of a colleague's impairment to talk with the colleague when feasible and help them take remedial action. If that does not work, they should use agency, NASW, or licensing channels.

  • A is wrong because going to the board may become necessary, but it is not the first step when a direct conversation is feasible.
  • B is wrong because it breaches the colleague's privacy and is not an appropriate channel.
  • D is wrong because impairment that affects client care creates a professional responsibility to act.

Question 14

A 78-year-old client with mild cognitive impairment says her adult son has been cashing her Social Security checks, leaving her without money for food or medication. She asks the social worker not to get him in trouble. The state requires reporting of elder abuse and exploitation. What is the BEST action?

  • A. Report suspected financial exploitation to adult protective services, while supporting the client and involving her in the process as much as possible
  • B. Respect the client's self-determination and take no action
  • C. Confront the son at the next family meeting
  • D. Help the client open a new bank account and watch whether the problem continues
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Financial exploitation of an older adult is reportable, and the client's wish not to report does not remove the legal duty. Involving her respects her dignity while protecting her.

  • B is wrong because self-determination does not override mandated reporting, particularly when cognitive impairment and unmet basic needs are involved.
  • C is wrong because confronting the son could increase the risk to the client and replaces the report the law requires.
  • D is wrong because it delays a required report and leaves the client without food or medication in the meantime.

Question 15

A Florida-licensed clinical social worker provides therapy by video. A client says she has moved permanently to another state and wants to continue sessions. What should the social worker do FIRST?

  • A. Continue sessions, because the social worker's license goes wherever the social worker practices
  • B. End services immediately without offering referrals
  • C. Switch to phone sessions so licensing rules no longer apply
  • D. Find out the licensing requirements of the state where the client now lives before continuing services
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Jurisdiction generally depends on where the client is located. The social worker has to confirm whether she may practice there, for example through that state's temporary-practice rules or interstate compact privileges if they are available. Then she can continue or arrange a proper transfer.

  • A is wrong because practice authority depends on the client's location, not only on where the social worker is licensed.
  • B is wrong because ending services abruptly without referrals risks abandoning the client.
  • C is wrong because licensing rules apply to telephone services as well.

Question 16

A client grieving her father's recent death asks the clinical social worker whether she has ever lost a parent. The social worker has. What is the BEST response?

  • A. Share a detailed account of her own grief so the client feels less alone
  • B. Consider whether a brief disclosure would serve the client's goals, and if she shares, keep it short and return the focus to the client
  • C. Decline to answer and tell the client that personal questions are not appropriate
  • D. Answer the question, then schedule extra sessions to explore their shared experience
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Self-disclosure is appropriate only when it benefits the client. It should be brief and should turn the focus back to the client's experience.

  • A is wrong because a detailed disclosure shifts the focus to the social worker's needs.
  • C is wrong because a curt refusal can damage the relationship. It is better to respond thoughtfully, even if the social worker decides not to disclose.
  • D is wrong because building sessions around a shared experience blurs roles and serves the social worker's agenda.

Question 17

Two weeks after a client dies, the client's adult daughter calls the social worker and asks what her mother talked about in therapy. What is the BEST response?

  • A. Explain that confidentiality continues after death and that information can be released only as the law permits, for example to a legally authorized personal representative
  • B. Share general themes from the sessions, since the client has died
  • C. Share everything, because next of kin automatically inherit the client's rights
  • D. Tell the daughter the records were destroyed when the client died
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: A

Rationale: NASW Standard 1.07(w) requires social workers to protect the confidentiality of deceased clients. HIPAA and state law decide who, such as an executor or personal representative, may authorize release. The social worker can still respond with compassion.

  • B is wrong because even general themes are confidential information.
  • C is wrong because family relationship alone does not give a person legal authority over the record.
  • D is wrong because it is dishonest, and records must be kept according to legal retention requirements.

Question 18

An agency director tells clinical staff to bill group therapy sessions as individual therapy because individual sessions pay more. What is the BEST response?

  • A. Comply, because the director is responsible for billing decisions
  • B. Resign right away without raising the concern
  • C. Decline to submit inaccurate claims, raise the concern with the director, and use agency channels and consultation as needed
  • D. Submit the claims but note the disagreement in personal files
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: C

Rationale: NASW Standards 3.05 and 4.04 require billing that accurately reflects the services provided, and prohibit taking part in fraud. Addressing the issue through proper channels is the ethical course.

  • A is wrong because following a supervisor's directive does not excuse participating in fraud.
  • B is wrong because resigning without trying to address the problem leaves clients and payers harmed and the practice unchanged. It may also disrupt client care.
  • D is wrong because documenting disagreement does not change the fact that the social worker submitted fraudulent claims.

Question 19

A clinical social worker is curious about a new client and is thinking about looking at the client's public social media profiles before the next session. There are no safety concerns. What is the MOST appropriate course of action?

  • A. Look at the profiles, since publicly available information is not confidential
  • B. Look at the profiles, but do not mention it to the client
  • C. Ask a colleague to look at the profiles instead
  • D. Do not search unless there is a compelling professional reason and, when appropriate, the client gives informed consent
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: D

Rationale: NASW Standards 1.03(i) and 1.07(q) advise against gathering client information online without a compelling professional reason and, when appropriate, the client's consent. Curiosity is not a compelling reason.

  • A is wrong because information being public does not make searching ethical, and the search intrudes on the client's privacy and trust.
  • B is wrong because hiding the search adds deception to the privacy intrusion.
  • C is wrong because having someone else do the search is the same intrusion.

Question 20

An adult client says she plans to overdose on her stored medication tonight. She says she has nothing to live for and refuses voluntary hospitalization. What should the clinical social worker do FIRST?

  • A. Respect her self-determination and schedule a check-in call for tomorrow
  • B. Start an emergency evaluation following state law, disclosing only the information needed to keep her safe
  • C. Have her sign a no-suicide contract and let her go home
  • D. Leave a voicemail for her family telling them about her risk, and take no other action
Show answer & rationale

Correct answer: B

Rationale: An imminent plan, available means, hopelessness, and refusal of voluntary care call for immediate protective action. In Florida, that would be the Baker Act involuntary examination process. Disclosure to keep the client safe is permitted, limited to what is necessary.

  • A is wrong because self-determination gives way when there is imminent risk to life.
  • C is wrong because no-suicide contracts are not evidence-based and do not protect a client who is at imminent risk.
  • D is wrong because an unconfirmed voicemail does not ensure the client's safety, and it discloses information without a clear protective effect.

Sources

ASWB exam outline (2026 blueprint)

  1. Association of Social Work Boards. ASWB Examination Guidebook: Your Guide to Taking the Social Work Licensing Exams (August 2026 edition; content outlines for exams administered beginning Aug. 3, 2026). https://www.aswb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Social-Work-Licensing-Exam-Guidebook-5.4.2026.pdf
  2. Association of Social Work Boards. "Exam" (2026 exams overview page). https://www.aswb.org/2026exams
  3. Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners, reproducing ASWB's handout. "2026 Social Work Licensing Exams." https://health.maryland.gov/bswe/Documents/OnlineLicApplications/August%202026%20ASWB%20Exam%20Change%20Handout.pdf

Ethics and law (lesson content)

  1. National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of Ethics (Standards 1.03, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.13, 2.08, 3.05, 4.04). https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
  2. NASW Delegate Assembly, proposed 2026 Code of Ethics amendments (vote scheduled Nov. 18, 2026). https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Delegate-Assembly/Current-and-Future-Actions
  3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 CFR Part 164, including §164.501 (psychotherapy notes), §164.502(b) (minimum necessary), §164.512(j) (serious threat), §164.524 (access). https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html
  4. 42 CFR Part 2, Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-2
  5. Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California, 17 Cal. 3d 425 (1976).
  6. Jaffee v. Redmond, 518 U.S. 1 (1996).
  7. Florida Statutes §491.0147, Confidentiality and privileged communications. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0491/Sections/0491.0147.html
  8. Reamer, F. G. (2024). Social Work Values and Ethics (6th ed.). Columbia University Press.
  9. NASW, ASWB, CSWE, & CSWA. (2017). Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice. (ASWB-listed reference.)

Sea Change Social Work Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) or the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Content is educational and is not legal advice.