THERAPISTS ATTITUDES TOWARD PSYCHOTHERAPY INFORMED CONSENT WITH ADOLESCENTS

A survey was sent to a national sample of 250 training agency psychologists to investigate their attitudes and practices regarding adolescent informed consent for psychotherapy. The returned surveys, 52% of the total, indicate a clear majority of respondents (70%) attempt to obtain adolescent informed consent. Psychologists ask for consent at an average client age of 12.8 years. When respondent ratings of the importance of types of information provided to both adolescents and their parents were examined and compared, information pertinent to the limits of confidentiality was considered most important for both groups. The findings suggest a trend toward the increased involvement of adolescents in psychotherapy informed consent procedures.