Can your therapist tell your parents you smoke?

And if a patient is under 18 years of age, a therapist can disclose their weed use to their parents or guardians. Additionally, if you’re distributing or have the intent to distribute marijuana, your therapist may feel required to report you under the “harm to others” clause.

What does a therapist have to tell your parents?

“The therapist is not obligated to tell your parents, but they are mandated by law to report any suspected sexual abuse. Since the law specifically refers to ‘suspected,’ it is not up to the therapist to determine whether the abuse actually occurred. Your parents are there to help!

What do parents want to know about their child’s therapy?

Parents routinely want to know all about what their child is talking about in therapy. Children often ask “Do you have to tell my parents,” before they will disclose something. There are no simple answers. Two primary questions here.

What are the legal requirements for a parent-therapy session?

The exact legal requirements are another issue that varies with the jurisdiction. The parent, therapist, and the child may also discuss ahead of time just what things will be told to the parent and what should be kept confidential. Some parents want to know everything the child says.

Should counselors tell parents what their child says?

Some reasons parents should not be told what their child says. If there is a danger the parent will overreact, or harm the child then the counselor may be ethically bound to keep things from the parent.

How do I choose a therapist for my parents?

Ask your potential therapist the tough questions about confidentiality and how they manage those issues. Find out if your parents are willing to let you take part in the process of choosing a therapist. Many professionals have directory profiles and websites that can tell you a bit about what they might be like to work with.