The Balance Between Confidentiality and Parent Involvement

When a teen begins therapy, it’s often the parents who feel more nervous than the teen themself. It’s not uncommon for our team to field questions like, “Will we be kept in the loop?” and, “How much will you tell us about what our child shares?” 

These questions and concerns are normal and valid. What’s more, they’re a reflection of a parent’s loving concern for their child’s well-being. 

They also touch on a delicate issue regarding therapy for minors: the balance between confidentiality and parent involvement. While this can be a tricky field to navigate, our counselors have found great success in striking a healthy balance that works for our teen clients and their concerned guardians.

Why Confidentiality Comes First

No matter the age of the client, confidentiality is the bedrock of effective therapy. For teens, especially, it creates a feeling of safety and security during sessions. When an adolescent is free from the fear of judgment or being “told on,” they are more likely to be open and honest with their counselor.  

Maintaining client confidentiality is also an issue of ethics and legality. It is a standard upheld by the Privacy Act of 1974, which is a federal law protecting the personal information of individuals. Typically,  confidentiality in therapy may only be breached when an individual gives written consent, there is a risk of harm or abuse, or doing so is mandated by a court order. 

Issues of Transparency

Some parents may worry that the information their teen shares with a counselor is inaccurate, incomplete, or biased. They may feel that greater transparency between themselves and the counselor would help ensure a clearer picture. 

We fully understand and respect these concerns, and we welcome parents' input and perspective. At the same time, we ask for trust in our professional ability to navigate these complex situations. Encouraging honesty in our teen clients is a key part of our work—and maintaining confidentiality plays a crucial role in building the trust that makes that honesty possible.

As trained and experienced professionals, our team knows how to navigate the complexities of teenage communication–what’s said, what’s not said, and what might be influenced by fear, shame, or confusion. We help our teenage clients find their voice and explore the challenges they face in an open and honest way. 

When Parents Should Be Involved

At NPS, we believe that parents should always be involved in their child’s counseling journey. In fact, research indicates that parent involvement makes therapy more successful. While a parent may not be privy to every detail shared during a counseling session, their support and presence are greatly needed and appreciated. 

Parents also play an invaluable role in continuing treatment outside of the counseling office. As the person who sees and interacts with their teen every day, a parent is the best person to help translate therapy skills into real-world applications. We find that teen counseling is most effective when the counselor, parents, and child are all on the same page, working toward the same goals. 

How We Strike a Healthy Balance

We know that striking a healthy balance between confidentiality and parent involvement is possible; we’ve seen it play out time and time again with great success. Building strong relationships between teens, their parents, and their counselors may not always be easy, but we believe it is worth the work. Here’s how we approach this delicate and essential balance:

Setting Clear Expectations

We believe in starting strong with open communication and clear expectations. Before we get started, we speak with teens and their parents about the boundaries of confidentiality, highlighting what can and cannot be expected to be kept private. In this way, we avoid misunderstandings and build a shared foundation of trust.

Encouraging Communication

While the content of a counseling session may be kept confidential, our team is eager to hear from and speak with the parents of our teen clients. We value their input and love to provide updates about progress whenever possible. We also strongly encourage open communication between our teens and their parents, which is an issue we address frequently during sessions.

Sharing Progress and Concerns

It is possible to share progress updates, as well as concerns, without divulging sensitive personal details. We often speak with parents about the specific skills and strategies being worked on in therapy with the hope that parents will provide critical at-home reinforcement. 

Informed and engaged parents are often the difference makers when it comes to successful therapy. While we want our teens to feel heard and respected, we also want their parents to feel included and empowered. Our counselors work tirelessly to achieve both those goals. 

Let’s Talk More

If you’re ready to learn more about how therapy might work for you and your teen, please don’t hesitate to call. We are eager to talk in person about this delicate balance and to tell you more about how therapy can be an invaluable tool for struggling adolescents. To schedule a free 15-minute meet and greet with a member of our team, contact us at (815) 477-4727.