Having confidence in therapeutic work with young people: constraints and challenges to confidentiality

Abstract

ABSTRACT Confidentiality presents particular challenges to practitioners working with young people, on account of the latter's vulnerability and emotional immaturity. Ethical codes place a key importance on confidentiality, from deontological and teleological perspectives. However, young clients may rely on a more pragmatic approach in deciding whether to disclose personal material to a counsellor. Surveys indicate that young people place high value on confidentiality in school and healthcare advice settings. Practitioners may perceive constraints and challenges to providing high levels of confidentiality to young people, in the form of assumed duties to report child abuse, under-age sexual activity, and the need to obtain prior parental consent for counselling. These apparent constraints are clarified in the light of recent statute and case law, which, in reality, provide robust support in law for counsellors providing high levels of confidentiality to young people.