Always ask.
You’re welcome to call or email us anytime with questions, but the answer may be closer than you think. Take a peek at our Frequently Asked Questions—we’re confident there’s an answer there for you.
How does Arcora protect children’s confidentiality when accessing counselling?
Intake
If your child is a covered dependant and either an adult (i.e. over 18 years of age) or considered a ‘mature minor’ through an assessment by an Arcora Clinical Coordinator, they can complete our intake process themselves by either calling 1-877-412-7483 or completing the online form. Their access is independent and confidential from their parent/legal guardian. If your child is a minor under 18 and/or cannot provide consent, you’ll complete the intake process for them and will be our main contact.
Counselling
Professionals in the Arcora Network are bound to confidentiality by law under their professional code of ethics. So, unless a child discloses safety concerns that pose immediate danger or risk of harm to either themselves or others (which requires the counsellor to involve the necessary parties to mitigate), your child’s counselling is always kept confidential. Usually, counsellors will have a conversation around confidentiality with you and the child as you start your sessions. This approach applies to us at Arcora as well—unless there’s an expressed risk of danger or harm, your child’s reason for accessing our counselling services will remain private between themselves, our Clinical Coordinators and their counsellor.
If your child is young, you’ll likely have a conversation with the counsellor at the outset about what can be shared and when and how you as the parent/legal guardian might be involved as a support person. If your child is a ‘mature minor’—as assessed by a health care provider as being capable to give consent to make their own health care decisions—or a teenager, their counselling sessions are generally conducted more independent of their parents/legal guardians. Adult children’s counselling sessions are generally conducted as completely independent, but can vary (if your adult child wants to have a parent/legal guardian involved, we’re happy to accommodate).
Note that child custody laws can be complex and can vary between jurisdictions. In most cases, either parent can access counselling for their child, though the counsellor they’re matched with will generally require consent from both parents to provide support.