In group settings with minors, which confidentiality guideline is most accurate?

• A. Parental consent is not required; each minor can sign their own consent.
• B. Confidentiality must be shared with parents only if the minor is at risk.
• C. Requires parental consent and adherence to state laws; maintain privacy of minor members as allowed.
• D. Confidentiality is absolute and cannot be breached under any circumstances.

Answer: (C)

Confidentiality for minors in group settings is guided by both professional ethics and state law. In practice, you typically need parental or guardian consent to involve a minor in treatment and you must follow the specific rules about what information can be shared. At the same time, you protect the minor’s privacy as much as allowed by law and policy, explaining the limits of confidentiality to both the minor and the parent at the outset. There are standard exceptions, such as safety concerns or mandated reporting, that require disclosure, but outside those, you keep information private within the permitted scope. This is why the best answer says parental consent is required and you must follow state laws while maintaining privacy of minor members as allowed. Options that ignore parental involvement, restrict confidentiality only to risk situations, or claim confidentiality is absolute do not fit because they misstate how consent and legal limits operate.