Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) Law and Ethics Practice Exam

How old must a child be in order to consent for therapy without a parent/caregiver/legal guardian?

1. 12

2. 13

3. 11

4. 15

The correct answer is: 12

In many jurisdictions, a child who is 12 years old is considered capable of providing consent for their own therapy without the requirement for a parent, caregiver, or legal guardian to be involved. This is rooted in the understanding that at this age, many children begin to develop a greater sense of autonomy and the ability to articulate their feelings and experiences, making them more capable of engaging in therapeutic processes. While the laws can vary significantly by state and country, the age of 12 is commonly recognized as a threshold where minors may have the legal right to make certain health care decisions, including mental health services. This acknowledges their growing maturity and ability to understand the therapeutic process and its implications. The other choices do not reflect the standard age of consent for therapy for minors in many locations, as they either set the age too low or too high, thereby not recognizing the appropriate age at which a child can make such decisions independently within the legal framework.