When Your Teenager Wants to See the GP Without You

Seeing a doctor on their own is part of growing up; know what stays private, what doesn’t, and how you can still help.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 13 to 18.

Where to start

Offer to help your teenager write down what they want to say and ask.
Ask whether they want you there for all of it, part of it or none.
Afterwards, ask how it went, and let them choose how much to tell you.
What your teenager tells the doctor is confidential, as it would be for an adult.
The doctor won’t share it without your teenager’s agreement unless they think the young person or someone else is at risk of serious harm, or the law requires it.
If your teenager has hurt themselves, or talks about not wanting to be alive, stay calm, thank them if they have told you, don’t promise to keep it secret, and act that day: help them ask the surgery for an urgent appointment, and if it is closed, use the crisis line. England, Scotland and Wales: call 111 and choose the mental-health option. Northern Ireland: call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. Help is free, confidential and available at any hour. Whoever answers may share information to arrange care or keep someone safe.
If your child is badly hurt, or may have taken too much of a medicine, get medical help straight away, even if they seem well. Call 999. Or go to your nearest A&E. Help is free and available at any hour. Your teenager can also talk to someone themselves, without you in the room. Childline, 0800 1111. For anyone under 19 in the UK. There is a one-to-one chat online at https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/1-2-1-counsellor-chat/. Help is free and available at any hour.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

General Medical Council, 0 to 18 years: guidance for all doctors (updated December 2024), paragraphs 15, 25 and 43 to 52; NHS, Information for under-16s about parent or guardian access to your doctor’s services (reviewed July 2026); YoungMinds, Getting support from the GP (reviewed February 2026)

It goes with

When They Stop Talking to You. For parents whose teenager hardly talks to them any more.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

General mental health. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
Transitions. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

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If you need help right now

If you or your child is in immediate danger: 999 · Go to your nearest A&E · 24/7.
If either you or your child is in a mental health crisis: NHS 111 · England, Scotland and Wales: call 111 and choose the mental-health option. Northern Ireland: call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 · 24/7.
If your child is under 19 and needs to talk to someone themselves: Childline · 0800 1111 · 24/7 · www.childline.org.uk.
If you are worried that a child is being harmed or is at risk: NSPCC Helpline · 0808 800 5000 · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm by phone; email 11am-4pm, seven days a week. An email sent when the service is closed is not received. · email help@nspcc.org.uk · www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-services/nspcc-helpline · If the NSPCC service is closed and the concern cannot wait, call the police on 101. You can also contact the child’s local out-of-hours children’s social care, social work or social services team. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you would prefer to text rather than speak: Shout · Text SHOUT to 85258 · 24/7 · giveusashout.org.
If you or someone you are worried about needs someone to talk to: Samaritans · 116 123 · 24/7 · www.samaritans.org.

If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.