In South Carolina, what is the minimum age for a client to give informed consent for therapy?

In South Carolina, the minimum age at which a client can give informed consent for therapy is 18 years old. This legal standard is based on the idea that individuals who are 18 or older are considered adults and have the legal capacity to make informed decisions regarding their mental health care. Informed consent requires that the client not only understands the nature of the therapy but also the risks and benefits associated with it, a level of understanding that the law assumes individuals 18 and older possess.

While younger individuals may participate in therapy, for them to provide informed consent, parents or guardians must typically be involved in the decision-making process until they reach the age of majority, which is 18 in South Carolina. This is designed to protect minors and ensure that they have appropriate support from a responsible adult when making significant health-related decisions. Thus, the correct answer reflects the legal framework related to adult responsibilities for informed consent in the context of therapeutic services.