CASE STUDY: Dr. Laura Simmons, a licensed clinical psychologist, has been treati

CASE STUDY: Dr. Laura Simmons, a licensed clinical psychologist, has been treating Mr. Alex Turner, a 35-
year-old software engineer, for symptoms of severe depression and anxiety over the past six
months. Their sessions have been characterized by trust and open communication, with Alex
often sharing his deepest fears and concerns.
During a particularly intense session, Alex reveals to Dr. Simmons that he has been having
recurring thoughts of harming a colleague due to a longstanding professional rivalry and recent
personal conflicts. He describes detailed plans and expresses a genuine intent to act on these
thoughts.
Dr. Simmons is immediately faced with an ethical dilemma. She values the principle of
confidentiality, which is foundational to the therapeutic relationship. Alex has trusted her with his
innermost thoughts, and she knows that breaking this trust could potentially harm their
therapeutic alliance. However, she is also bound by the principles of beneficence and non-
maleficence. Beneficence compels her to act in the best interest of her patient and those around
him, while non-maleficence emphasizes the importance of “doing no harm.”