Should I tell the client their diagnosis?

This is a question that my students ask me all of the time.  I answer from the empowerment and the ethical perspectives:  Of course clients should know their diagnosis!  They should also be involved in determining their correct diagnosis, and determining which treatments they prefer.  Who knows what the client is experiencing better than the client?

Students and clinicians often worry that knowing they meet the criteria for a diagnosis will feel like a burden to a client, a label they can never remove from themselves.  For me, I look at it this way:  If I go to a medical doctor for a cough, I should absolutely know if I have bronchitis or lung cancer.  This information will help us (me and my doctor) decide together what is the best course of treatment.  I can also gather more information about my diagnosis as well. I become empowered, not burdened.

The reason I'm thinking of this today is I read this interesting article http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/04/psychiatrist-open-mental-health-notes on a study examining the impact of psychiatric clients having access to their psychiatry notes.  The idea that in 2014 there are providers that do not discuss diagnosis with their client is surprising, and I hope research like this makes an impact.