The counselor should be considering that what the client disclosed as "privileged communication." Many states have laws that state that a counselor cannot disclose what has been stated in counseling without permission from the client. The only exceptions are if the counselor hears the client disclose that they are a risk of harm to themselves or others, in the case of child abuse, elder abuse or the abuse of a mentally or physically disabled person or if there is a court order. Otherwise, the counselor cannot share any information that the client has disclosed.