Problem: Respond to the scenario below highlighting any legal and ethical issues the therapist should consider. Additionally, describe how you would proceed with this client.
Scenario:
A father contacts you to begin therapy for his 15-year-old daughter who is an only child. He shares on the phone that he and the mother are recently separated, and he is concerned about how she is handling it. He describes that she is not talking to either of her parents much and spends a lot of time in her room. During the intake session, you reserve the last half of the session to meet with the child individually. She describes a few close friendships with girls at school and shares that she participates on the soccer team too. She is cooperative while you talk with her, is well-groomed, and presents with a normal range of affect. At one point, the client reaches across the table to use some colored pencils you have set out and you notice as her shirt sleeve pulls up some fresh-looking scrapes across her upper inner arm. You have some suspicion that they could be self-inflicted. The end of the session is in 5 minutes.