Psychology Writing Assignment: Case of Fifteen-Year-Old Girl

Case of Fifteen-Year-Old Girl
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Case of Fifteen-Year-Old Girl
Psychologists give therapeutic, teaching, diagnostic, research, consultative, supervisor and psychological services only in the capacity of an elaborate scientific or professional relationship or roles (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, 2017). Psychologists must receive consent/ permission to therapy or linked/connected procedures in a clear and concise language that is comprehendible to the participant or client. Generally, the client/participant must; have the capacity to consent, know the important information about the therapy and its procedures, the consent must be well documented, and the participant must be free from undue pressure to make the express consent for therapy. The Minor Identification and Protection Act of the Illinois General Assembly state that a minor is an individual who is below eighteen years and a parent is the adoptive or natural parent of the child who has legal custody of the minor (Assembly, 2014). Hence, minors cannot accord to treatment as well as therapy and legally a guardian accord on the child’s behalf.
In this case, the client is a fifteen-year-old girl implying that she is a minor legally without the legal capacity to consent to therapy without parental/guardian consent. This means the girl cannot legally consent to her therapy without her guardians’ approval. However, there are usually exceptions. Standard 4.02, "Informed Consent to Therapy," stipulates that when a person cannot give informed consent (such as a minor), psychologists "consider such person's preferences and best interests" (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, 2017). In addition, under the Illinois minors who are twelve years and older may receive outpatient counselling without the consent of their guardians (Assembly, 2014). This is restricted to five visits each of forty five minutes until the consent of their parents/guardians is obtained. The minor must consent to inform the parents/guardians. Informing the parents can only be done without the minor’s consent if the therapist deems such disclosure as very necessary.
The guardian/parent of the minor, who is oblivious to the therapy of the minor, cannot be legally liable for costs of treatment of the minor. With these in consideration, the therapist is at professional capacity to treat the minor. It is in the client’s best interest and preference to receive the therapy. In this case, the minor seems to have detrimental psychological issues which needs be resolved. The psychologist must professionally help the client to resolve the evident and unresolved psychological issues. To do so, the minors must also be informed of the proposed interventions according to their capacities to which they must assent to, and their best preferences and interest must be prioritised.
Question Two
From a clinical perspective, psychologists strive to maintain and promote the patient/client’s autonomy in their treatment. Privacy and confidentiality foster patients’ autonomy and independence (Behnke &Warner, 2002). According to Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct ...