In plain English…
This means all professional counselors are required to obtain consent from all parties granted custody of a minor child, prior to a session with the child, unless the court has made an exception in your individual case. We can only determine the rights to consent based upon a review of your most current custody paperwork and the advice of our lawyer.
You also need to know that ECA follows the current best practices in counseling minors, by contacting all custodial adults in a minor client’s life and offering each adult an opportunity to meet with the minor client’s counselor in order to share concerns and/or receive updates on counseling.
We understand that these best practices often cause concern or anxiety to one adult and/or the minor client and we welcome your questions about these practices at the initial parent consultation and are committed to honoring your concerns while also maintaining ethical and professional integrity.
Brenda Elledge, M.Ed., LPC-S
Director, Elledge Counseling Associates, PLLC