Can a child therapist tell your parents?

If you choose to tell your friends or family that you’re seeing a psychologist, you are free to do so. How much information you decide to share is up to you. Psychologists are ethically bound to protect your privacy regardless of what information you choose to share with others.

Are minors protected under HIPAA?

Generally, HIPAA offers no protection to minors and requires healthcare providers to release a minor patient’s medical records to the child’s parent or guardian upon request.

Who can consent to the treatment of a minor?

Generally, a parent or legal guardian must consent to the treatment of a minor. There are various statutory and judicial exceptions to the rules of who may consent. Minors of a certain age have been granted the right to consent to specific types of treatment in some states.

Can a minor give informed consent to psychotropic medications?

Even states that permit minors over a certain age to consent to mental health treatment usually do not allow minors to give informed consent for psychotropic medications. Most states allow emancipated minors or “mature minors” to give consent for mental health treatment.

Do I need a parent’s permission to attend therapy?

In many states, if you are under the age of 18, you will need a parent’s permission to attend therapy. This is because in order to give any kind of treatment—medical or psychological—a patient’s consent must first be obtained. If you are under the legal age to give consent as an adult in your state, then you’ll need a parent’s signature.

Do you need parental permission to go to drug rehab?

As with every rule, there are exceptions to the parental permission requirement. Some states, like California, allow minors to give consent to treatment for things like substance abuse or mental health treatment as young as 12.