Mandatory reporting of abuse of child during mental health session

Mandatory reporting of abuse of child during mental health session? Could someone help me to understand this law, given this scenario? It's for a course that I am taking. A parent goes to a mental health provider, to seek treatment. During this initial meeting, the parent states that they have hit their child one time, and that is what drove them to seek counseling. The parent had an abusive childhood, and is determined to stop the cycle. Their goal is to find alternative ways to deal with anger, and to never hit the child again. The child is a teenager (I'm not sure if that matters). There is no prior history of abuse in their family; the parent recognizes the problem, is genuinely seeking help. Other than this one instance, the parent/child have a very good relationship. The question is - does the mental health worker report this past abuse as a "mandated reporter"? Does it fall under the guidelines, or is it treated differently (remains confidential) as it was a one time incident and the parent is seeking help on their own? This takes place in Massachusetts, here is a link to the "Mandated Reporting" law. http://www.macucc.org/leadership/documents/MassMandatedReportingBill.pdf  Law & Ethics - 1 Answers Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions : 1 : Exceptions to Confidentiality In Mass. law, there are several exceptions to the confidentiality of psychotherapy (see the details of these laws, below). Three of these exceptions to confidentiality concern harm to self or others: • Where there is a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or elder adult physical abuse; • Where there is a reasonable suspicion that you may present a danger of violence to others; • Where there is a reasonable suspicion that you are likely to harm yourself unless protective measures are taken. In all of the above cases, the psychotherapist is either allowed or required by law to break confidentiality in order to protect you, or someone you might endanger, from harm. Read more discussions : Women/girls if you could have a child with 'gifts'... Why can't Dads get child support deductions on inc... Father of my child's health issues impairs his abi... Has any of you ever used NYS Child Health Plus ins... child sneaking food/health conciuos parents Plase ... Which medicaid health plan is better for pregnancy... Is Health Care Obama's No Child Left Behind? Why o... What is the logic behind forcing people to have ch...