I don't like my kid's friends!

"Joelle" wrote in message
...
As a minister, do you ever counsel teens on sexual issues? Do you have
the
whole confidentiality issue's to deal with?

Yes, and I tell the parents exactly what I intend to say. And I tell kids
upfront that if I think their parents need to know something I'll tell
them and
I tell them why I think it's important that their parents know what is
going on
...I also talk about how just because parents may react to something
negatively
and with anger and disappointment right away, it doesn't mean they don't
love
them and that they aren't going to be there to help them through whatever
it is
they have gotten themselves into.

If that means they won't tell me stuff, well that's too bad, but I don't
believe it is helpful to kids to keep secrets from their parents.

An actually confession of sin is something else. Except for sexual abuse
which
I am required by law to report, anything said in the context of confession
cannot be repeated but I can encourage the kid to tell their parents.

Sexual abuse is the only form of abuse you are required to report? What
about if the child is threatening to harm oneself?


I understand certain conversations my daughter has with counselors and
ministers are not going to be reported to me. But I don't expect people
like
my kids friends parents to advise them about where to get birth control.

I understand what you mean, I would want to know also. But first and
formost, I want my kid to not do anything stupid and if another adult
prevents that, that is good too. I would just hope that the adult could
confide in me also.


T