On behalf of adolescents : A qualitative study of counselor’s thoughts and experiences of encounters with adolescences

The aim of this study was to investigate how counselors who work at youth clinics relate to the question of the integrity of adolescents who are under 18 years old in relation to the parents rights to information. The study was based on semi-structured interviews with eight counselors from youth clinics in the StockholmCounty. We have analyzed our empirical material by categorizing the statements from the counselors and by using two different theories. The first one is a consequential ethics theory and the second one is a cognitive theory. These two theories have helped us to understand the thoughts and actions of the counselors. The results show that the counselors try to protect the integrity of the adolescents and that they only consider breaking that trust if they are concerned about the young persons physical or mental health. Often it is only in these situations, when the counselor might have to report to the social services, that the parents are given right to receive information. This indicates that the counselors have a strong belief in letting the adolescents keep their integrity and this ethical dilemma is only present in situations where the counselor is concerned for the adolescent