Confidentiality

For Adults (those 18 years or older):

Information in session will stay confidential except for in situations of:

• Harm to yourself or someone else (in imminent harm situations).   We would want to be sure you or those around you stay safe.
• If a minor child is in danger, we are mandated reporters to the State of IL and will have to report suspected abuse, neglect or other child endangerment to the state’s hotline.  Please talk with your therapist if you think this may apply to your situation.
• If you sign a Release of Information, over Age 18 allowing us to disclose.  You get to decide what information is disclosed, how and to whom, revoking it at any time.

For Teens (Ages 12-18 years):

The above 3 conditions still apply, but, information can also be released to parents.  We navigate confidentiality daily with our teens, working to balance both sides.  We understand both that parents need to be kept informed, but that teens may also want privacy.  Our Release of Information, Ages 12-19 Form is designed for just that purpose.

According to statute, without written consent from the teen, a parent is entitled to information regarding diagnosis, attendance, general goals and general progress towards goals.

Parents often ask about injurious behavior:  If the information revealed is presenting a more immediate harm to self or others, it must be shared.  Keep in mind that illegal activities, as an example, may or may not fall into that category as immediately harmful, to be disclosed. If a teen tells us about an episode that occurred years earlier, for example, it won’t be considered imminently harmful.   Know that in difficult situations of a need for a parent to know that falls into a gray area, we would be asking the teen to invite a parent in, asking them to disclose the information themselves.

Keep in mind our goal:  To support health in families.  We will be encouraging your teen to talk to you; we will be supporting parents on safe communication as well.  We want you and your teen to do well together!