What scenario falls under a permissible limit of confidentiality?

A scenario that involves a "danger to self" falls under a permissible limit of confidentiality because mental health professionals have an ethical and legal duty to take actions necessary to protect individuals who are at risk of harming themselves. When a client expresses suicidal thoughts or intentions, or there is credible evidence that they may engage in self-harm, therapists are required to break confidentiality to ensure the client's safety. This obligation is rooted in the principle of duty to warn and protect, which emphasizes the therapist's responsibility to act in the interest of the client’s well-being.

On the other hand, situations such as loss of employment, family disputes, and relationship issues generally do not pose an imminent risk of harm and are typically managed within the bounds of confidentiality. These issues may be significant in the therapeutic context, but they do not trigger the same ethical requirements to disclose information that arises in cases of self-harm risk. In such non-urgent scenarios, maintaining client confidentiality is essential to fostering trust and encouraging open dialogue in therapy.