In handling confidentiality with minor clients, which principle should guide disclosure?

• A. Always share details with parents
• B. Maintain confidentiality unless safety or law/school policy requires disclosure
• C. Never disclose to parents
• D. Disclose only at the end of counseling

Answer: (B)

Confidentiality in counseling with minors is about creating a safe space for honest discussion while recognizing limits that protect safety and follow laws and school policies. The best rule is to maintain privacy unless there is a risk of harm or a requirement to disclose by law or school policy. In practice, this means you keep most information confidential, but you disclose when there’s imminent danger to the student or others, when abuse or neglect must be reported, or when a mandate from law or policy applies. When disclosure happens, share only what’s necessary and document the reason, involving the student as appropriate. The other approaches aren’t appropriate because sharing everything with parents ignores privacy and developmental considerations, never sharing with parents neglects safety and legal obligations, and waiting until counseling ends misses timely intervention in urgent situations.