What principle is violated when confidentiality is breached?

When confidentiality is breached, the principle of confidentiality itself is directly violated. Confidentiality is a fundamental ethical guideline in psychology and other helping professions, which mandates that any information shared by a client must be kept private and secure, fostering a safe and trustworthy therapeutic environment. This principle ensures that clients can speak freely without fear of their private information being disclosed, which is essential for effective treatment and building a strong therapeutic alliance.

While transparency, integrity, and professionalism are also important principles in the field, the specific violation occurring when confidentiality is breached lies in the failure to maintain the expected confidentiality that forms the basis of the psychologist-client relationship. Such a breach can undermine the trust necessary for successful therapeutic outcomes and may have legal implications under Florida psychology laws.