psychologist do i have to report child abuse from many years ago but patient doesn't want to

by Loyal Feest 7 min read

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect - APA Services

34 hours ago  · In some states, the law may state that a report must be made if the person suspects that a child is being abused or has been abused within a specified period of time. 1 This means that a psychologist wouldn’t necessarily have to report the abuse disclosed by someone 18 years old or over who is processing abuse that happened several years ago. Other states, … >> Go To The Portal


Some states’ laws are unclear and could be interpreted as requiring a report even in cases of abuse alleged to have occurred many years ago. If you are unsure about whether to report past abuse of a patient who is now an adult, contact your state board of psychology, state child protective services agency, or your malpractice insurer for guidance. (Please note that the title of the agency charged with child protection in your state may be child welfare, child and family services, or another similar title.)

Full Answer

Should Psychologists report child abuse?

Q: In Delaware and some surrounding states, new legislation requires psychologists to report child abuse even if the victim is an adult or the abuse case was adjudicated. Patients are feeling re-victimized by our reporting and/or are dropping out of therapy or avoiding bringing up abuse. Patients are suffering.

When does a doctor have to report a suspected abuse?

This means that the doctor must report the suspected or reported abuse, even if there appear to be barriers such as the length of time between the adult patient’s own reported abuse (meaning they are no longer a child under the legislation) and the time of the report.

What if an incident of child abuse or neglect has never been reported?

If an incident of child abuse or neglect has never been reported before, it must be reported to the appropriate authorities, just like any other report of suspected abuse or neglect.

Will my therapist report abuse to the police?

You’re therapist will only report it if it is necessary to protect you or someone else in your family. There are many forms of abuse, some not so dire that they need to be reported to the authorities and the therapist can work with your family and the member doing the abuse to improve the situation.

What a therapist should not do?

Curious about what a therapist should not do?Skip building trust or rapport. ... Lack empathy. ... Act unprofessionally. ... Be judgmental or critical. ... Do anything other than practice therapy. ... Lack confidence. ... Talk too much or not at all. ... Give unsolicited advice.More items...•

Can you tell therapists about abuse?

Laws in all 50 states require a therapist to contact authorities if a patient is a danger to themselves, to others, and/or if the therapist suspects that a known child is being abused.

What is considered abuse by a therapist?

By abuse I mean intentional and unintentional conduct by therapists towards their clients that is not in the best interests of the client. Abuse can be of a sexual and emotional nature.

What can your therapist report?

Therapists are required by law to disclose information to protect a client or a specific individual identified by the client from “serious and foreseeable harm.” That can include specific threats, disclosure of child abuse where a child is still in danger, or concerns about elder abuse.

What should you not say to a therapist?

With that said, we're outlining some common phrases that therapists tend to hear from their clients and why they might hinder your progress.“I feel like I'm talking too much.” ... “I'm the worst. ... “I'm sorry for my emotions.” ... “I always just talk about myself.” ... “I can't believe I told you that!” ... “Therapy won't work for me.”

Are psychologist narcissists?

By far, most therapists are ethical, caring, and competent. And yes, some have narcissistic traits, while others may be obsessive, anxious, or moody. No human being is without personality wrinkles or flaws. Nobody's perfect.

How do you know when to stop going to therapy?

There is no “right” length of time to be in therapy. But for most people, there will come a time when therapy no longer feels necessary or progress has stalled. In most cases, the client will choose to end therapy; there are also situations in which a therapist decides to end sessions and refer a client elsewhere.

Why therapist should not be friends with client's?

Client-therapist friendships can be unethical, according to codes of ethics from many bodies that govern therapists, including the American Psychological Association [APA]. By becoming friends with a client, a therapist can risk disciplinary action from governing bodies or losing licensure.

Is it okay for a therapist to yell at you?

Yelling at you—again, raised voices sometimes accompany the discharge of strong emotions, and this can be fine and even healing at times. However, your therapist should not be yelling at you in demeaning or belittling ways, or ways that feel frightening or upsetting.

How honest can you be with a therapist?

Therapists & counsellors expect trust in the sense that both parties understand and are committed to spend every session building it. The most critical component of trust is honesty, so consider being upfront about the fact that you do not trust a therapist 100% with certain information to be good practice at honesty.

What are the most common ethical violations in clinical psychology?

5 Major Ethical Violations In Therapycommunication of therapist's intrapsychic conflicts to the patient.contamination of the transference and consequent interpretations.the dissolution of the therapeutic “hold”the possibility of inappropriate gratification resulting from counter-transference problems.

Can a therapist report you to the police?

Although therapists are bound to secrecy about past crimes, there is a fine line as to whether or not therapists must keep present or future crime secret. If you are actively engaged in crime or plan to commit a crime that you disclose to your therapist or counselor, they may need to report that to the police.

What If It Happened A Long Time ago?

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If an incident of child abuse or neglecthas never been reported before, it must be reported to the appropriate authorities, just like any other report of suspected abuse or neglect. This means that even if an incident occurred many years ago, the child is not at risk of further harm or neglect, or the child is now an adult, the incid…
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What If My Child Wasn’T Involved?

  • Sometimes children witness or hear about abuse or neglect that has happened to another child, such as a sibling, cousin, or friend. Your child’s counselor is also required by law to report these allegations, just as they would report the suspected abuse or neglect of their own clients. Similarly, if you report actions that would be legally considered abusive or neglectful toward any …
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What If It Was An Accident?

  • Accidental injury to your child is generally not considered child abuse unless that accident occurred because you were negligent or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Every parent has moments where they accidentally bump their child, or where their child injures themselves during a moment of parental distraction, and these genuine accidents are not considered child maltreat…
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What If My Child’S Counselor Makes A Child Abuse Report?

  • The greatest fear of many parents is that their child could make a vague statement that appears to indicate child abuse during a therapy session, and then be whisked away by child protective services before the parent has had an opportunity to explain the situation. The internet abounds with (often one-sided) horror stories, and some parents decide not to enroll their children in cou…
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What If I Have More Questions?

  • If you have more questions about the reporting laws or procedures in your state, you can look up your local statutes through the Department of Health and Human Services' Child Welfare Information Gateway. Additionally, the child protective services agencies of most states maintain helpful websites where parents can learn more about their local child maltreatment reporting pr…
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