Ethical Considerations in Counseling Adolescents

Ethical Considerations in Counseling Adolescents

Counseling teenagers brings up a lot of ethical questions. Many kids and teens coming to therapy aren't yet adults, live with family members who might have their own emotional problems, and go to school. A big deal here is confidentiality. It's super important for therapy to work well because it helps build trust between the counselor and the client. If a kid doesn't trust you anymore, it's tough to get that back.

Why Confidentiality Matters

Confidentiality is one of those big issues when working with teenagers. If they can't be sure their secrets are safe, why would they share them? Often, what they don't want their parents to know is actually what they need help with the most. If they're not comfortable opening up, how can a counselor really know what kind of help they need? Sharing confidential info improperly could lead to bullying or identity theft.

When Boundaries are Crossed

Boundaries are key from day one. Clients should know right off the bat that crossing them isn't okay. One ethical dilemma that comes up is sharing a client's protected health information (PHI). This info should be stored safely and only shared with the right people.

Dealing With Minors

Minors don't have the legal right to keep things secret from their parents but do from strangers. Parents often act as their kids' personal reps in treatment decisions because children can't legally consent themselves.

The Role of the Counselor

A counselor has a moral duty to talk about confidentiality with both parents and kids. They need to explain the law clearly and set their own privacy policies. Sometimes parents must agree to certain levels of confidentiality even if state laws offer less privacy.

The Legal Side of Things

HIPAA laws are there to protect mental health info from getting out without permission. Breaking these rules can lead to trouble for therapists—things like talking about patients in public or sending emails to the wrong person are common mistakes.

The law allows minors more freedom now than before; they can seek treatment for things like substance abuse or sexually transmitted diseases without parental consent under certain conditions.

The Importance of Professional Conduct

Keeping everything professional means respecting boundaries and maintaining confidentiality at all times. A client's trust is hard-won but easily lost if you breach confidentiality.

A Final Thought...

If therapists keep ethics in mind, stick to what's right, and double-check when unsure, they'll avoid most problems. But hey, nobody's perfect!

References

• Lamb, D. H., & Catanzaro, S. J. (1998). Sexual and nonsexual boundary violations involving psychologists...
• Smith, D., & Fitzpatrick, M. (1995). Patient-therapist boundary issues: An integrative review...
• Gustafson, K. E., & McNamara, J. R. (1987). Confidentiality with minor clients: Issues...
• Sondheimer, A., Ethics and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry...
• Get Help (2019). Retrieved from Good Therapy website...

This text reflects a more conversational tone while discussing ethical issues related to counseling adolescents in an informal style typical of everyday American English language usage.