In the context of minor confidentiality, which statement is true regarding risk?

• A. Confidentiality should never be breached
• B. If risk exists, confidentiality should be breached only in rare circumstances
• C. If there is imminent danger or abuse, confidentiality may be breached
• D. Counselors must disclose to parents in all risk situations

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that confidentiality has important, lawful limits when safety is at stake. For minors, keeping what a student says private is essential for trust, but it must yield when there is imminent danger or abuse. In those urgent risk situations, breaching confidentiality is permissible and often required to protect the student and report harm to the appropriate authorities or guardians. This isn’t about breaking privacy in every case; it’s about acting to prevent immediate harm and comply with mandated reporting rules.

So, the statement that best fits is that if there is imminent danger or abuse, confidentiality may be breached. The other options miss the balance between privacy and safety: confidentiality is not absolute; it can be breached when danger is immediate, not only in extremely rare circumstances; and not every risk situation requires disclosing to parents—legal and ethical guidelines guide who needs to be informed and when, which may include reporting to authorities or involving guardians as appropriate.