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Mom Gets In Trouble With CPS After Her Daughter Is Honest With Her Therapist About Her Behavior
If there’s one person in the world that you should feel comfortable sharing everything with, it’s your therapist. Their job is to listen without judgment and help you work through whatever issues you’re struggling with. Plus, there’s very little you could tell them that would shock them. I’m sure they’ve heard it all before.
But there are a few things patients can say that require the mental health professional to file a report. When one teen was honest with her therapist about her mom’s behavior, she ended up getting a visit from child protective services. Now, she’s wondering if she should have kept her mouth shut. Below, you’ll find the full story that the teen shared on Reddit, as well as some of the replies invested readers left her.
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Patients should feel comfortable sharing anything with their therapist
Image credits: tonodiaz (Not the actual photo)
But this teen began to wonder if she had said too much after opening up about her mom’s behavior
Image credits: fricaimages (Not the actual photo)
Image credits: varyapigu (Not the actual photo)
Later, the teen revealed that she got a visit from child protective services
Image credits: kaboompics (Not the actual photo)
Finally, the teen shared another update on her situation
Image credits: Sufficient-Way9754
Therapy can be extremely beneficial for teenagers
Being a teenager isn’t easy. You’re pumped full of hormones as your body goes through puberty, and you’re starting to feel like an adult, while everyone insists on treating you like a child. You might feel angsty and frustrated, but talking about your feelings may seem like an impossible task. You want to be accepted by your peers, but you’re trying to figure out exactly who you are.
Adolescence is an overwhelming and confusing time, which is why many teens can benefit from going to therapy. Peace Behavior Health notes on their site that speaking with a therapist can help teenagers regulate their emotions, reduce their stress, improve their social skills, and regulate their behavior.
Considering the fact that 20% of adolescents experience a mental health problem in any given year, having someone to talk to can be extremely beneficial for teens.
It’s not always easy to open up to their parents, and even talking to friends can be scary if they have a history of being judgmental or spreading secrets with others. Therapy is a safe space for teens to discuss what’s going on inside their heads.
However, it’s not always guaranteed that everything discussed in therapy will stay a secret. Opening up about the bizarre dream you had or the crush you have on your neighbor will definitely remain confidential. But Stop It Now notes that there are a few situations where a therapist may need to report something for their patient’s safety.
What exactly requires a report depends on the local laws where you live, but it’s often anything a patient says that leads the therapist to believe they are in danger or that they pose a threat to themself or others. It also must be reported if the therapist believes a child is in danger while with their parents.
Image credits: freepik (Not the actual photo)
It’s important for CPS to get involved any time a child may be in danger
Now, it’s clear why child protective services were contacted in this situation, given what the author shared about her mother. But as far as whether or not CPS can interview a child at their school, Minella Law Group says it depends.
Apparently, it is possible if the parent has given CPS consent, CPS has obtained a court order, exigent circumstances exist, or if there is reasonable suspicion that the child has been harmed by their parents or guardians.
It’s also important that the interview is conducted in a neutral setting, and the child must have the opportunity to have a teacher or school administrator present in their interview. The interviewers must also assure the child that they don’t have to answer any questions they don’t want to, and they can leave the interview at any time.
It can be scary for children to be in this situation, so it’s understandable for them to worry about sharing what it’s like in their home. But unfortunately, not all kids are safe around their parents. So it’s important for CPS to remove minors from any situation where they’re experiencing harm.
The National Children’s Alliance reports that U.S. authorities know of over 558,000 children who have been harmed or neglected by their guardians. That’s a devastating statistic, but it’s crucial for authorities to know what’s going on so they can work to stop it.
Image credits: freepik (Not the actual photo)
Later, the teen responded to several readers and revealed more details
Readers assured the author that she had done absolutely nothing wrong, and many urged her to speak up about her mom’s behavior
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What do you think ?
Lyone Fein 20 hours ago
I don’t believe that her therapist revealed the details of what she said to her mother figure. I think what happened was that the therapist simply told the mother that a report to CPS had to be submitted, because therapists are mandatory reporters just like doctors, teachers, clergy.
Sally Moen 1 day ago
Her mom ab uses her then gets mad that she tells her therapist what happened and blames her for talking. Is that why she and her mom are in therapy? And when her mom picks her up she takes her away for an hour to berate her and blame her for what the mom did. To top it all off, she blames herself for the whole situation. Grrrl. I am so glad you have a responsible caring therapist! Without them, the slapping, name-calling, blaming, transference, all of the rest, that was still happening, and she had nobody all the way in her corner, nobody fully paying attention and looking. Now she does. Of COURSE her mom is mad! She's being held accountable. This teenager is growing up and trying to heal from being hurt and the mom is upset she is rocking the boat that is running towards the rocks. It's normal to be angry and sad. It really hurts on Mother's Day when you don't get to have a loving mom. Best wishes to OP for her continued therapy and life.
Kristin 17 hours ago
Good god this bright back some memories. I had a extremely a*****e mother. If anyone has read the book a child called it, that was legit my life. She tried to off me 3 different times as a baby as well. Sadly, situations like that were different back then and a***e was a secret or nobody wanted to get involved. The last straw was when I went to school with hand marks around my neck, all for falling asleep and not putting food away when my egg donor got home (she worked 3pm to 1am) finally was taken and spent time in 36 foster homes until I was 18 and kicked to the curb with nobody and nothing.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 22 hours ago
My mom ábused me in every way you can ábuse a child all through my childhood/young adulthood. The only time I told anyone was the time when my dad had to go on a business trip. I was maybe 6 or 7. My mom grabbed her gún, grabbed me, pressed the gún to my throat and told my dad "If you leave, I'll kíll the kids and then myself." In that moment, I thought, this is it, I'm dead. She ended up yelling at my dad and shoved me aside, and I ran. The next day, I told my teacher about it (since that's what we're supposed to do as kids, right?) My teacher called a meeting with the principal and my mother the next day. My mom lied to them and said I'd seen a Western movie, and the cowboys had had gúns, and obviously I was imagining things. They believed her. When we went home, she beat me nearly unconscious for "snitching". I never told anyone else about the physical, mental, verbal, and séxual ábuse again, during my childhood. It was the 80s; CPS wasn't as much of a thing. I hope OP GTFOs ASAP.
Rafael 18 hours ago
Oh fúck, that is messed up. Sorry you had to endure this. How did you leave this situation, if you want to share? I remember you have two families, hope this was the one you left behind
Load More Replies...
Kathrin Pukowsky 6 hours ago
Glad the one comment mentioned that it's unusual for a parent to sit in on their child's therapy session. I thought for a bit that might the norm in some places. I can absolutely see there being situations where parents must be informed and counseled by the therapist on how to handle whatever the child is going through, but sitting in on the session itself sounds like an excellent way for an a****r to prevent their victim from opening up to somebody that can get them help.
K Barnes 9 hours ago
This is so all over the place that it rings true to me for students with ADHD and unstable/a*****e parents. I have a lot of empathy for OP. Like, the mom drove to school to drop off her forgotten lunch and money- which is really sweet, then lectures her for being late, which is meh. Then she brings up the cookie incident, which is totally fine and she's being sensitive, simultaneously with the slap which is a***e. It's a lot of mixed feelings to navigate.
Fabulous chocolate cookie 12 hours ago
Typical.. another therapists who tells all the child secrets straight to the mother.... This is exactly why I don't trust them.
Lee Gilliland 8 hours ago
I have no idea where you got that. Therapists must report all physical a***e use to CPS, who must follow up. The therapist told mum nothing.
Load More Replies...
Lyone Fein 20 hours ago
I don’t believe that her therapist revealed the details of what she said to her mother figure. I think what happened was that the therapist simply told the mother that a report to CPS had to be submitted, because therapists are mandatory reporters just like doctors, teachers, clergy.
Sally Moen 1 day ago
Her mom ab uses her then gets mad that she tells her therapist what happened and blames her for talking. Is that why she and her mom are in therapy? And when her mom picks her up she takes her away for an hour to berate her and blame her for what the mom did. To top it all off, she blames herself for the whole situation. Grrrl. I am so glad you have a responsible caring therapist! Without them, the slapping, name-calling, blaming, transference, all of the rest, that was still happening, and she had nobody all the way in her corner, nobody fully paying attention and looking. Now she does. Of COURSE her mom is mad! She's being held accountable. This teenager is growing up and trying to heal from being hurt and the mom is upset she is rocking the boat that is running towards the rocks. It's normal to be angry and sad. It really hurts on Mother's Day when you don't get to have a loving mom. Best wishes to OP for her continued therapy and life.
Kristin 17 hours ago
Good god this bright back some memories. I had a extremely a*****e mother. If anyone has read the book a child called it, that was legit my life. She tried to off me 3 different times as a baby as well. Sadly, situations like that were different back then and a***e was a secret or nobody wanted to get involved. The last straw was when I went to school with hand marks around my neck, all for falling asleep and not putting food away when my egg donor got home (she worked 3pm to 1am) finally was taken and spent time in 36 foster homes until I was 18 and kicked to the curb with nobody and nothing.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 22 hours ago
My mom ábused me in every way you can ábuse a child all through my childhood/young adulthood. The only time I told anyone was the time when my dad had to go on a business trip. I was maybe 6 or 7. My mom grabbed her gún, grabbed me, pressed the gún to my throat and told my dad "If you leave, I'll kíll the kids and then myself." In that moment, I thought, this is it, I'm dead. She ended up yelling at my dad and shoved me aside, and I ran. The next day, I told my teacher about it (since that's what we're supposed to do as kids, right?) My teacher called a meeting with the principal and my mother the next day. My mom lied to them and said I'd seen a Western movie, and the cowboys had had gúns, and obviously I was imagining things. They believed her. When we went home, she beat me nearly unconscious for "snitching". I never told anyone else about the physical, mental, verbal, and séxual ábuse again, during my childhood. It was the 80s; CPS wasn't as much of a thing. I hope OP GTFOs ASAP.
Rafael 18 hours ago
Oh fúck, that is messed up. Sorry you had to endure this. How did you leave this situation, if you want to share? I remember you have two families, hope this was the one you left behind
Load More Replies... Kathrin Pukowsky 6 hours ago
Glad the one comment mentioned that it's unusual for a parent to sit in on their child's therapy session. I thought for a bit that might the norm in some places. I can absolutely see there being situations where parents must be informed and counseled by the therapist on how to handle whatever the child is going through, but sitting in on the session itself sounds like an excellent way for an a****r to prevent their victim from opening up to somebody that can get them help.
K Barnes 9 hours ago
This is so all over the place that it rings true to me for students with ADHD and unstable/a*****e parents. I have a lot of empathy for OP. Like, the mom drove to school to drop off her forgotten lunch and money- which is really sweet, then lectures her for being late, which is meh. Then she brings up the cookie incident, which is totally fine and she's being sensitive, simultaneously with the slap which is a***e. It's a lot of mixed feelings to navigate.
Fabulous chocolate cookie 12 hours ago
Typical.. another therapists who tells all the child secrets straight to the mother.... This is exactly why I don't trust them.
Lee Gilliland 8 hours ago
I have no idea where you got that. Therapists must report all physical a***e use to CPS, who must follow up. The therapist told mum nothing.
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