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 minors benefit, and preserves the confidentiality of the details of her therapy. The psychotherapist-patient privilege protected the minors 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.
Case Summaries