Many clinicians find challenges when working with adolescents, and
confidentiality becomes one of the most crucial, and most difficult parts of
the counseling process. The counselors may feel constraints when
confidentiality arises for adolescents, such as dealing with under age sexual
activity, parental consent for counseling, and assumed duties to report child
abuse (Jenkins, 2010). The ethical code for privacy and confidentiality (5.01)
mentions that the psychologists must discuss the limitations on confidentiality
that are relevant (Behnke, 2002). Another aspect of counseling and ethics is
protecting the patient or others from harm, and to provide the professional
service that is required for the adolescent (3.04). A counselor has an ethical responsibility to not promise a
minor that they can withhold information from a parent who has legal custody.
Although a parent who has legal right to do so may feel it is up to the
counselor’s option to exercise this right or not. A counselor has to keep open
communication with the adolescent patient and discuss from the beginning the
clinical and ethical duties, which will help build a better trust among the
clinician and patient. A counselor is sought out to foster an adolescent’s
autonomy (Behnke, 2002). When working with adolescents that are growing and
becoming more independent, it is important to be able to take into account
their privacy, but not forgetting the ethical obligations as well.
References
Behnke, S. (2002, March 1). Confidentiality in the treatment of adolescents. Retrieved November 10, 2015, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar02/confidentiality.aspx
Jenkins, P. (2010). Having confidence in therapeutic work with young people: Constraints and challenges to confidentiality. British Journal Of Guidance & Counselling, 38(3), 263-274. doi:10.1080/03069885.2010.483128
It would be difficult, as a counselor to adolescents, to know exactly where to draw the line between confidentiality and open communication with parents. Is there a distinct set of guidelines regarding what the counselor can disclose to the adolescent client's parents?
ReplyDeleteThe guidelines must be set at the beginning of the therapy session. The law also comes into play. I will go further into law obligations, as well as some difficult situations that a counselor may encounter as well.
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