Confiding about child abuse to psychiatrist?!
Question: If a minor were to visit a psychiatrist for various reasons, and confide in the psychiatrist that he or she was abused physically, what would happen? Would the minor be taken away? Would the parents be punished? Or would he or she just be able to talk about it and no one else would have to find out?
I'm just doing some research on the issue- thanks
Answers: If a minor were to visit a psychiatrist for various reasons, and confide in the psychiatrist that he or she was abused physically, what would happen? Would the minor be taken away? Would the parents be punished? Or would he or she just be able to talk about it and no one else would have to find out?
I'm just doing some research on the issue- thanks
Good question. I know there are some loop holes in the Dr/Patient thing...I had a friend whose wife was drinking while pregnant and he called a help hot line to seek assistance and next thing you know HRS is at his house....per. she was intending to harm another human.
Hopefully, if the psychiatrist is good they would be able to convince the minor to pursue the necessary steps to punish the person regardless of who it maybe. So many minors feel they are stuck in a situation they can't escape from. If the minor is already in counseling that is a great sign for helping them.
if the person they are saying commited the act and the commiter was not prosecuted, the psychiatrist would have to tell and the police WOULD have to get involed
psychiatrists have to report the possible abuse to legal authorities. Whether or not the minor would be removed from the home and parents punished would depend upon the allegations proving to be true.
I am not positive about it but i think that they have to report to child services in their area.
i think you would talk to a psychologist but maybe i'm wrong there. if your a minor your parent would probably go to court and go to jail.
I believe the law forces the psychiatrist report child abuse. After that social services will be sent out to investigate the case to determine what the next steps will be. If there is evidence of child abuse in the family, the minor will be taken away and the abusers will be prosecuted.
EDIT: if the person is over 18 when the abuse is told to the psychiatrist, there isn't really anything to be done. The only thing that can possibly occur is for the person him/herself to pursue legal action against the abuser, but without evidence, there's little chance he/she can win.
it depends, if you live with both of your parents or what. the pyscatist would talk to ur entire family though
I believe, by law, he/she is duty bound to report it to the authorities, at the very least to the Protective Service or Child Service Division of Social Services.
I think the therapist would look into it.
He would probably ask the individual questions regarding their comment. Then, if they feel they are in immediate danger, they would have to contact the authorities or social services.
they would talk to the parent and see if the kid was lying you wont be much envolved
it depends how bad.
(i think)
if your dad rapes you once every few weeks they'll get you taken away.
but if you get a slap here and there i doubt it.
but if your mom throughs you down the stairs she'll get in trouble.
and if one parent abuses you and the other parent does nothing about it they both go to jail
?
I think they would get u out of there, after they got enough evidence to prove your case. They'res numbers 2 call as well. Do u want to be a Phycologest who works with people that are abused? Good call, i want to work a little in that area 2!!!
well first you should consider what it is that that minor wants and needs, then ask the psychiatrist what they would be forced to make actions about, then ask them if this could just stay between the two of you and see what advice they have to offer.
I believe that if a minor is being abused and she/he confides this to a professional, the professional is legally responsible to report this to the appropriate authorities. I believe this to be the case no matter what state you are from. NO CHILD OR ADULT SHOULD BE ABUSED!!!!!!!!! END OF STORY.
I think that the psych would be obligated to report the abuse to Child Protective Services or the local Law Enforcement. Although the psych would report it, it would be in the childs best intrest if they were being abused.
I think it depends on the degree of the abuse and the mental state of the minor child. There are rules about this sort of thing and some times calls have to be made that are completely out of the psychiatrists hands.
If abuse is suspected, child protective services are called and the police have to do an investigation. If the abuse is severe enough, the child is taken out of the home and placed in either a group home or a foster home until the investigation is completed.
I know because I have been through all of this.
Technically, the school guidance counselor can also initiate this type fo action. I was involved in a scenario like this once too.
The parents aren't always punished unless they have caused you severe harm. They may face criminal charges depending on what they have done and how much the child has been harmed.
You are supposed to be able to tell a psychiatrist or psychologist anything. But they are in the world to treat you and protect you from harm. They are held responsible for your mental well being and could get in a lot of trouble if they found out you were being abused and didn't say anything.
The minor may be very scared but he/she must understand that the current life situation is very unfair and needs to be corrected immediately. Being abused by people you are supposed to love and trust is the most harmful thing any adult can do to any child. The emotional and mental scars stick with you for life.
That is why it is a really big deal when some one reports abuse. Once that is done, only good things can happen. The government finds a nice family and home for you stay at and you only have to stay there until you are eighteen, then you can do whatever you want.
The bottom line is that all adults know better than to harm minors. They SHOULD be punished for that they have done. It is just not fair to the child to have to live that way.
depends on where you are and the nature of the abuse. therapists in some areas are required by law to report suspected abuse, as are medical and school workers. the abuse would have to be life-threatening for you to be taken away from your parents, otherwise it's more likely to result in mandatory family therapy. your mental and physical health are the most important things - talk to someone at your school or doctor's office, or call 911. good luck.
Even the mention of the possibility of child abuse to a mental health professional or government agent can result in an immediate investigation by child protective services or law enforcement -- depending upon the credibility of the report as evaluated by that person.
Once opened, that can of worms is not easily cleaned up or forgotten. The mere fact that there was an investigation can cause irreparable harm to reputations, as well as lawsuits for damages resulting from frivolous or false reports.
A report by a minor that is unsupported by physical evidence or other witness reports would be considered on a case by case basis.
It would depend on whether it was a historical case or a current case. If the minor is still being abused the acting psychiatrist would have to report it.
Also it would depend on the extent of the abuse. A minor may exagerate - under or over - as to what is happening. A minor also may struggle to verbalise sexual abuse (if sexual abuse was the problem).
A child would be taken off the parents if the abuse was serious.