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805-774-1506
You’re a teen starting therapy soon, and are wondering how parents are involved in teen therapy in Simi Valley. You’ve never done therapy before, and aren’t sure what to expect of the process. Something that’s been worrying you lately is just how much your parents are included in your therapy journey.
There are things you don’t want your parents to find out about, or you’re not comfortable sharing with them. This could be for many reasons, such as not wanting to get in trouble, disappointing them, or more. Starting teen therapy may feel weary to you, as you’re not sure if your parents and the therapist will be in cahoots.
At New Leaf Marriage & Family Therapy, our teen therapists are here to provide you with a safe and compassionate space. You can expect your teen therapist to aim at developing a trusting, therapeutic relationship with you. Your therapist is here to help you, and that does involve checking in with your parents.
We write a variety of mental health content, and want to share some we wrote just for teens. Make sure to read How To Tell My Parents I Need Therapy, when you’re looking to begin teen counseling near Thousand Oaks!
Confidentiality limitations
To start, we’ll discuss the confidentiality limitations for teen therapy. As mentioned, you may be worried that your therapist will share everything with them. There are some things you want to keep between you and your therapist – which is valid and reasonable. However, there are some things your parents will need to be aware of.
Risk of Harm
Therapists are obligated to break confidentiality when there is a risk of harm. This includes if a teen is a danger to themselves or others. Examples of this include having intent and plans to die by suicide, or to engage in violence against someone. If you’re expressing a plan to harm yourself or others, your therapist will break confidentiality.
What about self-harming behaviors or suicidal ideation?
You may be coming to therapy due to engaging in self-harming behaviors or having suicidal ideation. There is no present desire or plan to fatally harm yourself, but you’re presenting with these issues. Discuss with your teen therapist directly how they would navigate these conversations with you. If your therapist establishes safety with you, you can expect these topics to be kept confidential.
Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
Therapists are mandated reporters. A mandated reporter is a person legally obligated to report any suspected or known cases of child abuse or neglect. According to childwelfare.gov, these traumas can impair brain development. It is also linked to physical, emotional, and behavioral issues later in life.
Your therapist’s priority is to ensure your safety and wellbeing. You can trust your therapist when confiding in suspected child abuse or neglect. They will do what is necessary to support you doing this time.
Court Orders
In some cases, there may be court orders to attend therapy. For example, this could apply to reunification therapy or parenting courses. A court order may compel therapists to release information regarding your sessions. However, this is not a common situation.
Parent participation in your teen therapy
How do your parents play a role in your teen therapy? In what ways are they involved in the therapeutic process? As we discussed so far, a main concern may be around your confidentiality. You’re curious how much information is shared with your parents, and the content of that information.
Parent-Only Sessions
Your teen therapist will meet one-on-one with your parent(s). This is a good opportunity for them to gather additional information. Your therapist may ask how things are going at home, if the parent is noticing any changes, or more. Within parent-only sessions, your parent(s) may bring up current questions or concerns around your progress.
This is also a space where your therapist will work to build rapport with your parent(s) as well. It’s essential that the therapist is able to be a trusting and supportive individual throughout the process. While your teen therapist is working mainly with you, they will also find ways to support the parents throughout this process.
This may look like providing psychoeducation around your symptoms or behaviors. Your therapist may validate your parents’ feelings and explore their perspectives with them. They will not be spilling all the tea of what you’re sharing in sessions. You can expect your therapist to keep things brief about you, and focus more on the parent’s thoughts or feelings.
Parents – make sure to read our blog on 5 Tips for Parenting Teenagers! Our teen therapist in Simi Valley is here to provide you with support.
Family Sessions
Family sessions involve you and your parent(s) in the room together with the therapist. Below, you’ll read about how your teen therapist will prepare you for discussing things with your parents in the room. Family therapy sessions provide an opportunity for the therapist to observe your dynamic in the room together.
Family sessions will include checking in with all present family members about current issues. Your teen therapist will want to understand if there are areas needing more support, or that could use more growth. Your therapist may aid in facilitating difficult conversations between family members as well.
Teens, make sure to read our blog on What To Do If Your Parents Aren’t Supportive. In our teen therapy near Thousand Oaks, we are proud to be known LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists!
Phone Check-Ins
Quick phone check-ins are good for checking in with your parents around progress. This could look like your therapist sharing your goals for therapy, and what you’re addressing together. Your therapist may briefly address topics being discussed, without sharing specific details. They’ll also open the floor for questions or concerns from your parents.
How they’ll discuss things with you and your parents
Your therapist will check in with you before bringing anything up to your parents. They’ll want to know what you are and are not comfortable sharing with them. Your therapist will want to understand what extent of topics you’re willing to talk about with them. Let’s say for example that you want to discuss how you and your parents communicate.
Bringing up the communication dynamic in the family can cause conflict. It could be that there is resistance to feedback or accountability. Your therapist will prepare you for this conversation altogether. This looks like having a mock discussion, helping you formulate thoughts, and more. Strengthening communication skills is an excellent goal to have in teen therapy near Porter Ranch.
Feeling confident about confiding in your teen therapist
It’s understandable that you may not feel comfortable confiding in your teen therapist at the start. It takes time to build rapport and trust together. Meeting new people can feel scary or intimidating. You may even feel a bit defensive, and not want to open up about what’s going on for you.
A great way to build confidence in confiding in your teen therapist is having an open conversation with them. What questions do you want to ask them about the process? How do they handle types of situations? Are you hesitant to talk about something?
Therapy provides you with endless opportunities to practice communication skills, self-expression, and gain deeper insight. The sessions are tailored to your needs, and you work together to come up with goals. Sometimes therapy can be tough, but there’s no right or wrong answers.
Go into therapy being yourself, and see if you feel that your therapist is a good fit for you. Examples of a good fit include:
- A good listener. They remember what you talk with them about, and give you their full attention!
- Non-judgmental and compassionate. They don’t make you feel ashamed or judged.
- Experienced and understanding. They are prepared to support your mental wellbeing.
- A human. They’re not robotic or super by-the-book. They can joke, laugh, and cry with you!
Starting teen therapy in Simi Valley can feel overwhelming. Especially if you’re seeking a private space to talk about difficult things. Consider calling us today for a free consultation!
In-person therapy in Simi Valley is ideal for those seeking a separate, safe space from their home. Check out our blog on Online Therapy or In Office Therapy to understand what format is best for you. Another great blog to read is ours on if you need Therapy or Medication to address your issues.
By seeking out support, you can begin your journey to feeling relief. You don’t have to go through finding the right level of support alone, either. By clicking here, you’ll read our blog on Information About Simi Valley Therapists.
Consider calling our therapy group at (805) 774-1506 for a free consultation on how you or a loved one can get started today!
Seek out a validating, safe environment with us today. We will help you get to where you want to be. Our therapists provide trauma therapy, teen therapy, individual adult therapy, LGBTQIA+ therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, family therapy, and more in-office in Simi Valley, CA.