Under what condition does a counselor have a duty to warn?

A counselor has a duty to warn particularly in situations where there is a clear and imminent threat to a specific individual. This responsibility arises from the ethical and legal frameworks guiding counseling practice, which dictate that the safety of others must be a priority. When a client threatens to harm another identifiable person, the counselor is obligated to take action to prevent potential harm. This might include informing law enforcement or directly warning the potential victim, depending on the circumstances.

In contrast, the obligation to act is not triggered simply by a client expressing suicidal thoughts, as this may indicate a need for intervention but does not directly endanger another person. Additionally, while working with underage clients requires careful consideration of reporting and confidentiality laws, it does not inherently create a duty to warn unless there is a direct threat to another individual. Similarly, admissions of past illegal behavior may raise concerns about compliance with the law and therapeutic responsibility, but they do not directly necessitate warning actions unless those behaviors suggest a current risk to others.