If there’s one person in the world that you should feel comfortable sharing everything with, it’s your therapist. Their job is to listen without judgment and help you work through whatever issues you’re struggling with. Plus, there’s very little you could tell them that would shock them. I'm sure they've heard it all before.
But there are a few things patients can say that require the mental health professional to file a report. When one teen was honest with her therapist about her mom’s behavior, she ended up getting a visit from child protective services. Now, she’s wondering if she should have kept her mouth shut. Below, you’ll find the full story that the teen shared on Reddit, as well as some of the replies invested readers left her.
Patients should feel comfortable sharing anything with their therapist
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But this teen began to wonder if she had said too much after opening up about her mom's behavior
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Later, the teen revealed that she got a visit from child protective services
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Finally, the teen shared another update on her situation
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Therapy can be extremely beneficial for teenagers
Being a teenager isn’t easy. You’re pumped full of hormones as your body goes through puberty, and you’re starting to feel like an adult, while everyone insists on treating you like a child. You might feel angsty and frustrated, but talking about your feelings may seem like an impossible task. You want to be accepted by your peers, but you’re trying to figure out exactly who you are.
Adolescence is an overwhelming and confusing time, which is why many teens can benefit from going to therapy. Peace Behavior Health notes on their site that speaking with a therapist can help teenagers regulate their emotions, reduce their stress, improve their social skills, and regulate their behavior.
Considering the fact that 20% of adolescents experience a mental health problem in any given year, having someone to talk to can be extremely beneficial for teens.
It’s not always easy to open up to their parents, and even talking to friends can be scary if they have a history of being judgmental or spreading secrets with others. Therapy is a safe space for teens to discuss what’s going on inside their heads.
However, it’s not always guaranteed that everything discussed in therapy will stay a secret. Opening up about the bizarre dream you had or the crush you have on your neighbor will definitely remain confidential. But Stop It Now notes that there are a few situations where a therapist may need to report something for their patient’s safety.
What exactly requires a report depends on the local laws where you live, but it’s often anything a patient says that leads the therapist to believe they are in danger or that they pose a threat to themself or others. It also must be reported if the therapist believes a child is in danger while with their parents.
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It's important for CPS to get involved any time a child may be in danger
Now, it’s clear why child protective services were contacted in this situation, given what the author shared about her mother. But as far as whether or not CPS can interview a child at their school, Minella Law Group says it depends.
Apparently, it is possible if the parent has given CPS consent, CPS has obtained a court order, exigent circumstances exist, or if there is reasonable suspicion that the child has been harmed by their parents or guardians.
It’s also important that the interview is conducted in a neutral setting, and the child must have the opportunity to have a teacher or school administrator present in their interview. The interviewers must also assure the child that they don’t have to answer any questions they don’t want to, and they can leave the interview at any time.
It can be scary for children to be in this situation, so it’s understandable for them to worry about sharing what it’s like in their home. But unfortunately, not all kids are safe around their parents. So it’s important for CPS to remove minors from any situation where they’re experiencing harm.
The National Children’s Alliance reports that U.S. authorities know of over 558,000 children who have been harmed or neglected by their guardians. That’s a devastating statistic, but it’s crucial for authorities to know what’s going on so they can work to stop it.
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Later, the teen responded to several readers and revealed more details
Readers assured the author that she had done absolutely nothing wrong, and many urged her to speak up about her mom's behavior
