Guided Response: Review several of your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers who live in states with different requirements by 11:59 p.m. on Day 7 of the week. You are encouraged to post your required replies earlier in the week to promote more meaningful and interactive discourse.
Examine your peer’s approach to this case. Do you agree or disagree with how he or she intends to deal with the situation presented? Did your colleague provide enough information on his or her state’s regulations to give you a picture of the potential limitations presented by these statutes? Did your colleague’s detailed actions for dealing with personal conflicts suitably align with the professional requirements presented in the case study? Why, or why not? Support your rationale with evidence from the required readings. Pose any questions that may need clarification. Suggest any changes that might improve the efficacy of your colleague’s approach. Continue to monitor the discussion forum until 5:00 p.m. MST on Day 7 of the week and respond to anyone who replies to your initial post.
Dealing with minors in Psychology can be quite tricky because as professionals we still need to provide confidentiality. Minors in New York State can access mental health care without parental involvement under many circumstances. “Confidentiality means that information related to a patient’s treatment, including the fact that a patient is receiving treatment, may not be disclosed without the permission of the client or someone authorized to act on the client’s behalf, unless otherwise required by law” (NYCLU, 2004). In N.Y., the provider may withhold information if the patient is over 12 years of age and objects to any disclosure being asked of them. “New York law permits psychologists and psychiatrists to breach confidentiality when they determine that a patient presents a serious danger to another person.7 In addition, social workers and rape crisis counselors are not required to keep confidential communications by a client that indicate an intent to commit a crime or harmful act.8 Some New York case law and most professional organizations suggest that all mental health care providers may breach confidentiality when they determine that a patient presents a danger to himself or others” (NYCLU, 2004).
In this case, Billy is still able to deny signing a disclosure. He’s not in a rape crisis or a serious danger to himself and others at this point. Unless this changes, in the state of New York, as a Psychology professional, I would still have to keep it confidential unless a judge says otherwise or his drug use becomes a serious danger to himself.