California has placed increasing focus on adolescent mental health in recent years. There have been multiple surveys and research studies conducted over the past decade specifically looking at adolescent mental health, including rates of depression and suicidal ideation in teens, as well as access to mental health care. State legislation can significantly impact teen access to mental health services in California. Assembly Bill 665 is a California youth mental health consent law that introduced changes to minor consent for mental health treatment in the state.1-3
This post will explain the AB 665 youth mental health law, what it means for adolescent behavioral care in California, and how it might impact your child’s care.
AB 665 Explained for Parents and Teens
Assembly Bill 665 is an act to amend, repeal, and add Section 6924 of the Family Code, relating to minors. To understand what this means, we need to look at the existing law that was amended. Before AB 665, minors who are at least 12 years old could consent to mental health treatment and counseling on an outpatient basis in California if they were mature enough to understand the services and were a danger to themselves. Under the previous law, if an adolescent was not a danger to themselves or others, they could not consent to their own mental health treatment.3
Changes to Minor Consent for Mental Health in California
The addition of AB 665 removed the requirement that the teen be a danger to themselves. This allows teens experiencing mental health problems to consent to treatment without the provider needing to consult with a parent first in many situations. While the child’s mental health treatment will still involve parental involvement if it is deemed appropriate, AB 665 changes the therapy consent rules for teens. The AB 665 California mental health law became effective on July 1, 2024.3
AB 665 is one of the California mental health laws for minors that can impact treatment in several ways. Below, we explore how AB 665 changes mental health care for minors in practice.
Mission Prep Healthcare specializes in mental health treatment for teens aged 12-17, offering residential and outpatient programs for anxiety, depression, trauma, and mood disorders. Our therapies include CBT, DBT, EMDR, and TMS, tailored to each adolescent’s needs.
With a structured, supportive environment, we integrate academic support and family involvement to promote lasting recovery. Our goal is to help teens build resilience and regain confidence in their future.
What Does AB 665 Mean for Youth Mental Health Treatment?
The practical impact of AB 665 centers on access and confidentiality. While the language in the bill is specifically tied to a minor’s consent, the law plays an important role in confidential mental health care for minors.3
Before AB 665, a minor could seek outpatient mental health care, but the provider was required to consult with a parent or guardian first in most situations. This placed limits on a teen’s ability to access confidential mental health care.
With the new bill, a teen in California may have the ability to begin outpatient counseling for a variety of mental health concerns that don’t necessarily pose them a significant danger.3
Understanding Youth Mental Health Rights in California
Let’s look at an example of how youth can access mental health care under AB 665.
If a teenager is beginning to realize that they are showing signs of anxiety and panic attacks during school, they might not feel comfortable sharing this information immediately with their parents. With AB 665, this teen could reach out to several outpatient mental health providers and consult with them before the provider contacts their parents. This allows the teen to feel a sense of control or autonomy over their own health.
It is important to note that the provider is still required to consult with the parents afterward, as long as they do not feel the involvement would be inappropriate or detrimental to the child’s care. In general, family involvement in youth mental health treatment has been shown to play a positive role in decreasing mental health symptoms.4 Balancing teen autonomy with family support, therefore, remains central to effective adolescent care.
Levels of Adolescent Behavioral Health Care in California
There are different levels of adolescent behavioral health care available to families in California. Depending on your child’s diagnosis and the severity of their symptoms, there will be different treatment recommendations. A few examples of different levels of care are outpatient therapy, residential mental health treatment, and inpatient mental health treatment.
Outpatient Mental Health Care for Adolescents in California
When looking at the impact of AB 665, we are going to focus on outpatient therapy because that is the level of care minors can consent to according to the law. If your child needs more intensive care, including residential mental health treatment or inpatient psychiatric care, they require parental consent. In addition, AB 665 does not allow minors to consent to psychiatric medications; they will require parental or guardian consent for those services.3,5
In terms of outpatient therapy, there are many options suitable for teens with mental health conditions. Under AB 665, a teen may seek outpatient therapy and counseling services from a psychologist, social worker, or clinical counselor. Some of the therapeutic modalities used for adolescents include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
Finding the right type of therapy for your child may take time, as there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to mental health treatment. Learn about what options are available near you and seek professional treatment recommendations. Understanding parent consent vs minor consent for mental health in California can help families navigate these decisions together.
Mission Prep’s Adolescent Mental Health Treatment in California
Mission Prep offers several options for mental health treatment tailored to adolescents in California, including residential mental health services and outpatient treatment. We have eight different residential facilities in California. Each location includes gender-specific housing, transportation services, hospital affiliations, and 6-bed houses to create a comfortable environment to foster healing.
If you are interested in finding out more about Mission Prep’s California mental health treatment options for adolescents, contact us today. Teens interested in outpatient services can contact us directly to speak to a member of our clinical team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Minors Consent to Mental Health Treatment in California?
Yes, minors who are at least 12 years old in California can consent to treatment under AB 665 if the mental health practitioner believes that the minor is mature enough to participate intelligently in the outpatient services.
What Is Parent Consent Vs Minor Consent for Mental Health in California?
If an adolescent is at least 12 years old and they are deemed mature enough to participate in outpatient mental health counseling, they can consent to treatment. However, if the child is under 12 in California, parental consent is necessary. In addition, if a mental health practitioner does not believe that a minor over the age of 12 is capable of intelligently participating in their outpatient treatment, parental or guardian consent is still required.
What is Confidential Mental Health Care for Minors?
Confidential mental health care for minors allows children who are at least 12 years old to seek therapy privately, often without initial parental involvement. This is particularly important for teens managing sensitive issues such as substance abuse and sexual health. However, a therapist may be required to break confidentiality if there is a risk of harm to the minor or others.6
Are There Other California Youth Mental Health Consent Laws?
There are two main laws involved with California youth mental health consent. As we mentioned in this article, AB 665 is specifically tied to Section 6924 of the Family Code. Another law that focuses on California youth mental health consent is Section 124260 of the
Health and Safety Code. Both laws state that adolescents 12 and over can consent to outpatient mental health therapy and counseling services.
References
- California Department of Public Health, Center for Family Health, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division. (2023, November). Adolescent mental health dashboard. https://go.cdph.ca.gov/Adolescent-Mental-Health-Dashboard
- Zhao, X., Schueller, S. M., Kim, J., Stadnick, N. A., Eikey, E., Schneider, M., & Sorkin, D. H. (2025). Real-world adoption of mental health support among adolescents: Cross-sectional analysis of the California Health Interview Survey. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 50(1), 20–29. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsad082
- California State Legislature. (2023). Assembly Bill 665: Minor consent for mental health treatment. Health and Safety Code Section 124260; Family Code Section 6924; Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 14184.102 & 14029.8.
- Pine, A. E., Baumann, M. G., Modugno, G., & Compas, B. E. (2024). Parental involvement in adolescent psychological interventions: A meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 27(3), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-024-00481-8
- Department of Health Care Services. (2024). AB 665 implementation: Minor consent for outpatient mental health treatment or counseling (BHIN 24-046). https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Documents/BHIN-24-046-Minor-Consent-to-Outpatient-Mental-Health-Treatment-or-Counseling.pdf
- Pathak, P. R., & Chou, A. (2019). Confidential care for adolescents in the U.S. health care system. Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, 6(1), 46–50. https://doi.org/10.17294/2330-0698.1656
