Which statement about confidentiality with minors is correct?

• A. All family members
• B. The child
• C. The school
• D. The parents of clients who are minors

Answer: (D)

With minors, confidentiality is balanced by the parents’ role as legal guardians and decision-makers for the child’s care. The parent or guardian typically has the right to information about the minor’s treatment and to consent to or authorize services. This is why the statement asserting that the parents of clients who are minors control confidentiality is the best choice: it reflects the usual responsibility and rights of guardians in the therapeutic process.

While a child’s privacy is important and some information may be kept confidential from parents in certain situations, the default expectation in most settings is that parents are informed about their minor’s counseling, unless specific legal or ethical limits apply (for example, safety concerns or mandatory reporting). Information sharing with the school isn’t automatic and requires appropriate consent or policy justifications, and sharing with all family members isn’t assumed without consent.