Teen Health Services and One-On-One 

Time with A Healthcare Provider 

An Infobrief for Parents 

The teen years are an important time of growth and development. Teens need regular medical care to ensure 

they receive recommended health services that help keep them safe and healthy. Having a healthcare provider 

(e.g., a doctor or nurse practitioner) they trust and can talk to is important, particularly when it comes to topics 

such as mental and sexual health, substance use, and safety from bullying. Parents can help create that trusting 

relationship by allowing their teen one-on-one time with their healthcare provider. 

Why is one-on-one time with a 

healthcare provider important? 

As adolescents develop and take greater responsibility for 

their lives, it makes sense for them to be more engaged in 

their own health care. Current guidelines from the American 

Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that providers 

begin having one-on-one time, commonly referred to as 

“time alone”, with young people as early as age 11.1

Providers who spend one-on-one time with teens 

early on help establish this practice as a routine part 

of care, and provide teens with regular opportunities 

to raise any concerns in an open manner.2

 Ensuring 

teens have a chance to discuss sensitive issues, such as 

relationship concerns or depression, can increase their 

satisfaction with medical care and receipt of preventive 

health services.3,4 A recent report from AAP encourages 

providers to have one-on-one time with teens in order 

to provide accurate and comprehensive sex education, 

including personalized information on risks and 

prevention strategies.5

 

Do teens get one-on-one time with 

healthcare providers? 

Research suggests that not enough teens get one-onone with their providers. One study found that only 38% 

of teens 15-17 years old had one-on-one time with a 

provider during a clinic visit in the prior year.6

 Another 

study found that out of 144 medical visits attended by 

a parent, just 68% involved time alone between the 

provider and teen.3

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention 

Division of Adolescent and School Health 
What parents can do:

Prepare

yourself

Talk with the healthcare provider about when to begin giving your teen more autonomy 

with their health care, and when you can expect the provider to ask for time to discuss 

your teen’s health privately. Initially, the provider may ask you to step out of the room 

for a short period of time, with the time lengthening as your teen gets older and more 

comfortable with taking responsibility.

Prepare 

your teen

Check in with your teen prior to beginning this process. Ask if he or she will be 

comfortable talking to the provider alone. As they get older, give your teen a heads up 

that you will be stepping out of the room and encourage them to think about what they 

would like to discuss with their provider during that time. As your teen gets older, you 

may want to ask them whether they want you to come into the exam room at all.

Work with your 

teen’s provider

Working together as a team, you and the provider can ensure that your teen has the 

opportunity to discuss openly with both of you issues that may be concerning.

Talk with 

your teen

Have regular conversations with your teen about health-related topics, including healthy 

relationships, mental health, and the prevention of HIV, other sexually transmitted 

diseases, and pregnancy. These discussions will help to reinforce and build your teen’s 

confidence to talk openly with a provider whether or not you are in the room.

Be supportive

When your teen’s provider asks you to step out of the room, you can signal that you 

appreciate them taking the time to speak with your teen alone. Being supportive can 

reassure your teen and empower them to take more responsibility for his or her own 

health care. It also makes it easier for the provider to continue to seek out time alone 

with your teen at future visits.

Take action If your teen’s provider does not ask you to step out of the room, you can suggest that you 

do so. Let the provider know you think it is important that your teen and the provider 

have time alone to talk about their health and well-being.

Look for 

opportunities

There is usually more time at annual check-ups to allow your teen and providers to have 

time alone. However, you can look for opportunities to offer to step out of the room 

during urgent care visits, as well.

Seek out 

resources

Some resources include CDC’s factsheet “Talking to Your Teen about Sex: Going Beyond 

the Talk” and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine’s app THRIVE, which can 

help you begin a dialogue with your teen on important health topics. 

References

1. Hagan JF, Shaw JS, Duncan PM, eds. 2008. Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Third Edition. 

Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

2. Ford C, English A, Sigman G. Confidential Health Care for Adolescents: position paper for the society for adolescent medicine.

J Adolesc Health 2004; 35(2): 160-7.

3. O'Sullivan LF, McKee MD, Rubin SE, Campos G. Primary care providers' reports of time alone and the provision of sexual health services to urban 

adolescent patients: results of a prospective card study. J Adolesc Health 2010; 47(1): 110-2.

4. Brown JD, Wissow LS. Discussion of sensitive health topics with youth during primary care visits: relationship to youth perceptions of care. 

J Adolesc Health 2009; 44(1): 48-54.

5. Breuner CC, Mattson G, Committee On Adolescence, Committee On Psychosocial Aspects Of Child and Family Health. Sexuality Education for Children and 

Adolescents. Pediatrics 2016; 138(2).

6. Copen CE, Dittus PJ, Leichliter JS. Confidentiality concerns and sexual and reproductive health care among adolescents and young adults aged 15-25. 

NCHS Data Brief 2016; (266): 1-8.

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