What if my child says private things about my family?
It is important that your child feels free to talk about experiences in the family that may be troubling or confusing. It matters that you give approval to your child to talk to the counsellor or psychotherapist. It is understandable that you might feel worried about what your child may wish to talk about in their sessions. However, you should bear in mind that the strict code of ethics that counsellors and psychotherapists follow includes clauses about confidentiality. The therapist is not there to judge you or anyone else in your family, their sole purpose is to help your child to manage their problems and to try to resolve them in a positive way. We recognise the courage it may take to trust your child to us and acknowledge that in placing that trust in us you are making a positive choice for the well-being of your child.
Can I ask my child about the counselling sessions?
The counselling relationship is very private and personal, and each child will respond differently to it. Some children may wish to talk to their parents about the sessions, while others, especially teenagers, may wish to keep the content of their sessions to themselves. It is important to be guided by your child and to respect these individual differences. There may be times when your child feels more upset following a session, and this may be because they have been talking about painful feelings. Showing sensitivity to their distress, while also respecting their right to privacy, is a difficult balance for parents and carers to achieve.
Can I ask my child's counsellor how the sessions are going?
It is natural that you will want to know how your child is getting on in their counselling. A therapist may arrange to meet with you occaisionally to review progress if your child has asked for this. It is important to remember that the counsellor will have agreed to a confidential relationship with your child and has a professional duty to safeguard confidentiality, their privacy. The only very rare exception to this would be if the counsellor thought that your child was at serious risk of harming themselves and others.
