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Name: In re Kristine W.
Case #: D038074
Court: CA Court of Appeal
District 4 DCA
Division: 1
Opinion Date: 12/12/2001
Subsequent History: None
Summary

The sixteen year old minor appellant in this dependency case appealed a court order permitting the Department to receive certain information from her therapist regarding her therapy. She argued that the court was not authorized to disregard her invocation of the psychotherapist-patient privilege. Here, the order was affirmed only to the extent that it permitted disclosure by the therapist of matters which would reasonably assist the juvenile court in evaluating whether further orders were necessary for the minor’s benefit, and preserves the confidentiality of the details of her therapy. The psychotherapist-patient privilege protected the minor’s confidential communications and details of therapy, but did not preclude the therapist from giving circumscribed information to assist the Department in ensuring that the minor received appropriate services.