(a) A psychologist or psychological associate may not reveal to another person a communication made to the psychologist or psychological associate by a client about a matter concerning which the client has employed the psychologist or psychological associate in a professional capacity. This section does not apply to

(1) a case conference with other mental health professionals or with physicians and surgeons;

(2) a case in which the client in writing authorized the psychologist or psychological associate to reveal a communication;

(3) a case where an immediate threat of serious physical harm to an identifiable victim is communicated to a psychologist or psychological associate by a client;

(4) disclosures of confidential communications required under Rule 504, Alaska Rules of Evidence; or

(5) proceedings conducted by the board or the department where the disclosure of confidential communications is necessary to defend against charges that the psychologist or psychological associate has violated provisions of this chapter; information obtained by the board or department under this paragraph is confidential and is not a public record for purposes of AS 40.25.110 - 40.25.140.

(b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a psychologist or psychological associate shall report to the appropriate authority incidents of child abuse or neglect as required by AS 47.17.020, incidents of abuse of a vulnerable adult as required by AS 47.24.010, and incidents of abuse of disabled persons disclosed to the psychologist or psychological associate by a client. In this subsection “disabled person” means a person who has a physical or mental disability or a physical or mental impairment, as defined in AS 18.80.300.