Being clear about confidentiality helps build trust and supports open, honest conversations with young people. 

You might say:

"I’m going to ask you some questions to better understand how things are going for you. What you share with me is private, and I won’t pass it on to your parents or anyone else without your permission.”

It’s important to also explain the limits of confidentiality in a calm, transparent way. For example:

“The only time I would need to share information is if I was really worried about your safety or someone else’s, or if the law requires it.” 

Some clinicians prefer to frame this as a collaborative process:

“If you tell me something that I’m concerned could seriously affect your health or safety, I’ll talk with you about it first. We can work together to decide who else might need to be involved and how to move forward.”

This approach reassures young people that confidentiality is respected, while making it clear that their safety and wellbeing come first.