What is the primary focus of the Duty to Warn principle?

The primary focus of the Duty to Warn principle is to ensure the safety of potential victims. This legal and ethical obligation arises when a counselor becomes aware that a client poses a serious threat of harm to another individual. In such cases, the counselor is required to take necessary steps to warn the identified potential victim and may need to notify law enforcement to prevent harm.

While maintaining client confidentiality is critically important in the counseling relationship, the Duty to Warn establishes that this confidentiality may need to be breached in specific situations where there is a clear and immediate risk to another person. The counselor's responsibility to protect potential victims supersedes the obligation to maintain confidentiality in cases involving threats of violence.

Overall, the focus on ensuring safety in the face of genuine threats is what defines the Duty to Warn and guides counselors in ethical decision-making regarding risk management and client welfare.