eens facing serious issues rarely seek out formal counseling. Instead, they may:
- Drop hints during a group discussion
- Speak quietly after youth group
- Share personal struggles—but only after extracting a promise that you won’t tell anyone
That’s a risky—and sometimes illegal—promise to make.
Know Your State’s Mandatory Reporting Laws
Most states require professionals—like doctors, teachers, and police—to report suspected abuse of minors. In many states, this duty extends to:
- Pastors
- Youth workers
- Childcare providers
“If you’re a mandated reporter and fail to comply, you place yourself, your ministry, and its leadership in jeopardy.”
—Rich Van Pelt & Jim Hancock, The Youth Worker’s Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis
The Consequences of Failing to Report
Imagine a youth worker learns a teen is being molested by a relative—but says nothing. The abuse continues. Later, if authorities learn the church had prior knowledge and failed to act, they could:
- Charge the youth worker for failure to report
- Hold the church liable for ongoing abuse
Bottom line: Know your state’s laws. Train your youth leaders on:
- Confidentiality
- Abuse disclosures
- Counseling boundaries
- State-mandated reporting requirements
Note: Ignorance of the law is not a defense.
Confidentiality: A Double-Edged Sword
Confidentiality builds trust—but can backfire.
- Teens won’t open up if they think their secrets won’t be kept
- But you can face legal trouble for keeping secrets that should be reported
Real-Life Cases from Brotherhood Mutual:
- Case 1: A youth leader shared a girl’s secret with a family friend. The family threatened to sue for breach of confidentiality.
- Case 2: A church leader failed to report sexual abuse disclosed in counseling. He was held legally liable.
“Even clergy confidentiality laws usually include exceptions for abuse,”
—Ronald Troyer, Brotherhood Mutual
How to Walk the Tightrope
Youth workers must be clear and honest with teens.
“Why won’t you promise to keep it a secret?”
“Because it may not be in your best interest, and I could be breaking the law.”
—Richard Van Pelt
Every ministry should:
- Train all lay counselors on abuse reporting laws
- Distribute Richard Hammar’s Child Abuse Reporting Laws for Churches (published bi-annually in Church Law & Tax Report)
Counseling: Know Where the Line Is
The Legal Risk
If youth workers give advice that crosses into clinical counseling, they risk being sued for unlicensed practice.
“You cannot step across the line from being a spiritual counselor to a clinical counselor.”
—John Sandy, Brotherhood Mutual
What Not to Do
Avoid giving clinical advice unless you’re licensed. Be cautious:
- Don’t recommend treatments or actions from books or non-biblical sources
- Don’t act as a therapist—especially with complex mental health issues
Understand Mental Health Licensing Laws
These vary by state. Generally:
- Pastors employed by a church can provide pastoral care without a license
- Lay counselors may face stricter regulations—especially if they:
- Charge fees
- Advertise services publicly
- Use protected titles like “counselor” or “therapist”
Safer Terms to Use:
- Helping relationship
- Mentoring or discipling relationship
- Coaching
- Pastoral care
When Pastoral Counseling Isn’t Enough
Some signs a teen may need clinical help:
- Sudden aggression or outbursts
- Drop in grades
- Talk of running away
- Nightmares or insomnia
- Significant weight or appearance changes
Referral is key. Even seasoned youth workers face situations beyond their training.
“Referral isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength.”
—Van Pelt & Hancock
Building a Referral Network
Create connections with trusted professionals:
- Support groups and Christian counseling centers
- Local crisis hotlines
- Licensed therapists and psychologists
- Teen mental health hospitals
- Crisis pregnancy centers
- Substance abuse counselors
Prepare before a crisis hits. Know who to call before you need them.
Establishing Counseling Guidelines
Ministries must protect both youth and adult leaders. Consider the following policies:
1. Informed Consent
Create a Lay Counseling Agreement that outlines:
- Confidentiality terms (especially for minors)
- Session limits
- Right to terminate counseling at any time
- Clarification that only biblical (not clinical) counseling is provided
Parental/guardian consent is essential for minors.
Sample forms available in Lay Counseling Risk Management Guidebook
—John L. Sandy, Brotherhood Mutual
2. Sexual Misconduct Prevention
To reduce risks:
- Never counsel someone of the opposite sex alone
- Have a parent or second adult present when counseling a minor
- Set limits on:
- Session duration (e.g., 45–60 minutes)
- Number of sessions (e.g., maximum of six)
- Use offices with windows and visibility
- Avoid physical contact that could be misinterpreted
3. Ethical Standards
Youth workers should:
- Never interfere with medical treatment or prescriptions
- Immediately report:
- Suspected abuse
- Suicidal statements
- Threats of violence
Legal documents should clearly outline exceptions to confidentiality.
4. Confidential Record-Keeping
Encourage youth workers to take simple notes:
- Date of each session
- What was shared
- Advice given
Keep records:
- Secure and confidential
- Password-protected if digital
- Encrypted if on portable devices
- As church property, not personal files
Discuss record-retention policies with your attorney.
Responding with Care—and Caution
Youth ministries are full of caring adults who want to help. But well-meaning actions can carry legal risks. Take time to:
- Understand state laws
- Train your team
- Create a strong policy framework
- Build a trusted referral network
With wise preparation, your church can offer both compassionate and legally sound care to teens in crisis.
