Which of the following limits confidentiality can relate to a court-ordered investigation?

The option that correctly relates to a court-ordered investigation and limits confidentiality is the search warrant for office. When a therapist or social worker receives a search warrant, it legally obligates them to provide access to certain records or premises to law enforcement or judicial authorities. This represents a significant breach of confidentiality because the professional is compelled to disclose information that would otherwise be protected.

In the context of clinical practice, confidentiality is an ethical obligation, but it is not absolute. Legal circumstances such as a search warrant establish a requirement to comply with the court's demands, which can override the usual confidentiality agreements established in the therapeutic relationship.

In contrast, regular therapy sessions maintain confidentiality as a foundational element unless specific circumstances arise that dictate otherwise. Mental health check-ups typically involve ongoing treatment where confidentiality remains intact unless there are legal or ethical reasons to breach it. Similarly, informal discussions do not carry the same legal weight as a court order and can generally be guided by the therapist's confidentiality protocols. Thus, while the other options may involve confidentiality, they do not represent a legal action that explicitly limits it in the same way that a search warrant does.