At Ruh Care, we prioritize the well-being and safety of all our clients. Consent is a crucial part of the therapy process as it helps us ensure that clients understand and agree to the treatment they receive.
For clients under the age of 16, parental consent is required to start and continue therapy.
Parental Consent
Parental consent is necessary for clients under 16 to ensure that parents or guardians are informed about and agree with the therapy their child receives. This requirement is both a legal and ethical obligation, helping to protect the rights and safety of minor clients.
Situations Requiring Parental Consent
Parental consent is generally required in the following situations:
Before starting therapy, parents or guardians must provide consent for their child to participate.
If there are significant changes to the therapy approach or treatment plan, parental consent may be needed again.
Exceptions to Parental Consent
There are certain situations where parental consent may not be required:
Emergency Situations: In cases where immediate therapy is needed to prevent harm to the patient, consent may be bypassed to provide urgent care.
Legal Exceptions: There may be specific legal circumstances that allow minors to consent to their treatment without parental approval. These exceptions are rare and depend on local laws and regulations.
How to Provide Consent
The patient's parents or guardians would have to fill out the consent forms before they start therapy. These written consent forms are used during the intake process and need to be signed to grant permission for the patient to receive therapy.
Confidentiality and Minors
While parental consent is required for minors to receive therapy, minor clients still have important rights to confidentiality. This balance ensures that the therapy process is both safe and effective, respecting the needs of both the patient and their parents or guardians.
Shared Information
Parents are generally informed about the progress and overall treatment of their child. This includes updates on how therapy is going and any significant changes in the treatment plan. However, specific details shared by the patient during therapy sessions remain confidential. This means that while parents are kept in the loop about the general direction of the therapy, the private conversations between the therapist and the patient are protected.
Confidential Matters
Sensitive information that the patient shares with the therapist in confidence is safeguarded. This confidentiality is crucial for building trust between the minor and the therapist, allowing the patient to speak openly about their thoughts and feelings. The only exceptions to this confidentiality are situations where there is a risk of harm to the patient or others. In such cases, the therapist is obligated to take appropriate actions to ensure safety, which may involve breaking confidentiality.
Rights of Minor Clients
Minor clients have rights within the therapy process to ensure they are treated with respect and dignity:
Right to Confidentiality: Minors have the right to confidential therapy sessions within the limits of the law. This right ensures that they can speak freely without fear of their private thoughts being disclosed without their consent, except in cases involving the risk of harm.
Right to Information: Minors are also entitled to understand their treatment. Therapists are expected to explain the therapy process, goals, and any planned interventions in a way that is appropriate for their age and comprehension level. Minors should also have the opportunity to participate in decisions about their therapy as much as possible.
We have this parental consent policy so that parents are involved and supportive of their child's mental health care. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us at [email protected]. We're here to help and support you every step of the way.