Colorado Teens’ Right to Privacy in Mental Health Settings

Read Time: 13 minutes

[Please Note: If you feel like you need help right now, text HOME to 741741 or call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Hotline.]

Maybe you’re a preteen or teen, and life seems complicated right now. Maybe you’re juggling school, work, sports, band, or other extracurriculars, and can barely keep your head above water. That’s not even taking into account the stress you have from trying to navigate your friendships, family dynamics, or hell, even personal needs. You know your mental health is suffering and you want to seek help through therapy.  

However, as you take this step towards caring for yourself, you may face a few roadblocks. What happens if your parents or guardians don’t want you to go to therapy? What if you don't trust your parental figures enough to seek help from them? And you might not know that you do have privacy rights and limits on who can access the information you share with a therapist or counselor. 

Understanding your rights to access mental health care and your privacy surrounding it are crucial to getting the help you need and to feeling comfortable and confident in your therapy journey. Let’s dive into the details of your rights as a Colorado teen in mental health care settings.

Age of Consent for Mental Health Services in Colorado

Different states have different rules regarding the age at which teens can access mental health services without needing a parent or guardian’s permission. This is known as the "age of consent" for mental health treatment.

In Colorado, the age of consent for psychotherapy services is 12 years old. This means that, from the age of 12, teens in Colorado can independently seek and receive therapy from a mental health professional without needing their parent or guardian's approval. However, it’s important to note that if you are enrolled in Denver Public Schools and are seeking help from school-based mental health providers, you still need permission from your parental figures if you are under the age of 18. 

[Note: Please note that this isn’t the case in all states. In some places, the age of consent might be higher, meaning that you may need parental approval to receive certain types of mental health care. If you're unsure about the rules in your state, ask your therapist or search for state-specific information online.]

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Psst...by the way…

LOOKING FOR COLORADO TEEN THERAPISTS WHO PRIORITIZE CONFIDENTIALITY & CONNECTION?

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Confidentiality in Mental Health Care: What Does it Mean?

Confidentiality and trust are paramount in health care, but particularly in mental health care. If you don’t have it, it’s going to make it incredibly hard to trust your therapist. This means that what you talk about with your therapist stays private. Therapists are legally and ethically required to keep your information secret, with a few exceptions that we'll cover shortly.

Why is confidentiality so important? 

Simply put, it’s what allows you to be open and honest in therapy. Knowing that your conversations won’t be shared without your permission creates a safer space for you. If you’re able to express your feelings and work through challenges honestly, your time in therapy will be that much more supportive and meaningful. Without this promise of confidentiality, many people, teens included, might hesitate to reach out for help.

Teens are more likely to reach out for support when they know their concerns will be handled privately. This is especially important for sensitive issues like anxiety, depression, bullying, substance use, or struggles with identity.

Limits to Confidentiality: When Can a Therapist Share Your Information?

While confidentiality is a key part of therapy, there are some situations where a therapist or counselor may be legally required to share what you’ve discussed. Most of these exceptions are in place to ensure your safety and the safety of others. The key exceptions include:

1. Risk of Harm to Self or Others: If you share that you are thinking about suicide, and are making clear and imminent plans to seriously harm yourself, your therapist has a legal obligation to take steps to protect you. This also applies if you are making serious threats to others. To protect you or others, your therapist might notify a parent, guardian, or another responsible adult.

2. Abuse or Neglect: If you disclose that you are being abused or neglected, whether it’s physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, therapists are required to report this to the appropriate authorities. This is to protect you and ensure that you're in a safer environment.

3. Court Orders: In some cases, a therapist may be ordered by a court to provide information about your treatment. However, this is relatively rare and specific to legal situations.

4. Written Consent: Last but not least, if you give written consent to your therapist to share your information, a therapist can do so.

It’s important to know that even if these situations arise, therapists will often talk with you first and explain what steps they are going to take. Our goal as therapists is to be equally open and honest and to always keep you informed and involved in decisions that affect your well-being.

Discussing Mental Health Confidentiality with Your Therapist

When you start therapy, it’s a good idea to ask your therapist to explain how confidentiality works. Here are a few questions you might want to ask during your first session:

• What are the limits of confidentiality in our sessions?

• Will you tell my parents if I talk about specific issues, like using alcohol or drugs?

• How can I get help with something without my parents being involved?

• If you need to break confidentiality, will you let me know beforehand?

• Can I involve my parents or guardians in therapy when I feel comfortable, and what will that look like?

By having conversations like this early on, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what to expect and can feel more comfortable sharing your honest thoughts and feelings.

Balancing Privacy and Family Involvement

All Colorado teen therapists are obligated to talk to you about the importance of involving and notifying your parents or guardians of your mental health care. However, we understand that may be an uncomfortable situation or maybe not even a possibility. 

While family involvement can sometimes be beneficial to your mental health treatment, providing you with extra support and insight into family dynamics, it’s ultimately up to you and your therapist to determine how much you want to involve your caregivers (as long as you’re not at risk of harm.) As part of therapy, we’ll work with you to help you communicate effectively with your parents or legal guardians about your mental health while still respecting your need for privacy.

Teen Therapy in Denver & Colorado: Your Right to Mental Health Privacy & Care

As a teenager in Colorado, you have the right to make choices about your mental health care. You have the right to decide when and if you want care, and who, if anyone, should be involved in your treatment. This includes the right to refuse therapy if it’s not something you feel comfortable with at the time.

We hope that by understanding your right to privacy in mental health settings, we can empower you to take control of your mental health. We want therapy to be a safer and confidential space, where we can support you as you work through your emotions, challenges, and goals. By knowing your rights, we want you to be able to seek help with confidence, trusting that your therapist will respect your privacy and support your well-being.

Whether this is the first time you’ve considered therapy or a continuing journey, remember that your effort to find support is a sign of strength. You deserve to feel supported, and understanding your rights is the first step toward getting the care you need.

If you’re a pre-teen or teen in Colorado looking for therapy or have more questions about your rights or the confidentiality of therapy, don’t hesitate to ask our therapists here at Interfaith Bridge Counseling. We’re here to help guide you through the process and make sure you feel comfortable every step of the way.

You can read the Colorado HB 19-1120 bill here and more about it here.

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About Our Author | Lena McCain MA, LPC. 0017723

Lena McCain is our Founder here at Interfaith Bridge Counseling, where she continues her support as our Clinical Director. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health: Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University.

Lena’s drive and passions lie in the realm of community building and youth collaboration, which she has spent the last 12 years studying with an emphasis on one’s exploration of personal growth, community healing, and multicultural values. Lena’s expertise in these areas and the therapeutic field acts as a reminder to our community, teens, and young adults that they are not alone in their experience of life.