[Brown Owl 2]

I’m in the UK, and saw a new T last week. I think she may be fairly newly qualified. I quite liked her, but am really put off by the fact that she hasn’t asked me for details like my address, date of birth and the name of my GP. It seems unprofessional. I’m seeing her again later today, but am unsure whether to continue with her. Perhaps she will ask for the details today.

[divine1966]

Is there office staff who could ask all that? Rather than actual t?

[Nammu]

Maybe she already has that info from your GP?

[Miss Laura]

Hey my counsellor took details from me and I'm in Scotland so yeah I think you'll probably get info like that done soon. Let us know OK

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[Therapy reviewed]

I saw a private psychoanalysis in UK and she never took those details of me only my contactable phone number

[AnaWhitney]

Any of the Ts I have seen have not asked for those details. My current one got me to sign something about terms and conditions but that was even new to me.
It seems to be different in Europe. Especially if it’s a private therapist/ counsellor. I’ve never been asked for anything and I’ve seen 5 different Ts who were all very professional

[amandalouise]

maybe they already have your records by computer. everything is computerized here in my location.

example I go to my therapist. he takes notes and whatever. then after I leave his office he gets on his computer and logs into the mental / medical health filing data base and starts a file on me. name, address, birthdate, any important information about my diagnosis and treatment plans, medications, allergies, basic short answer stuff they would also keeping a paper file but now keep on their agencies data base, that is only accessible to treatment providers.

then one day down the road I decide to get a new treatment provider. no problem that new treatment provider who also uses online filing database system, types in my name and up pops my previous medical and mental health files other treatment providers have kept on me.

no need for my new treatment provider to start a new file in the data base, no need to no need to ask the client what their birth date is address is, phone number is, what medications you have been on in the past, your previous diagnosis's it's all there at their fingertips thanks to professional filing data bases.

its just like if you went on "google" and did a search for your name all your public information on you will show up.

only on the treatment provider data bases only treatment providers have access to whats in those files on the database they use.

if your new treatment provider is from the same agency as your last one or the new agency uses the same computerized filing system, they dont need to ask you about some things because they already have that info.

Here in the USA everything is computerized now where every agency uses some sort of on computer filing system. - social security, medicaid/ medicare and other insurance companies' physicians, mental health and so on, they all use digital filing systems aka computerized data storing filing system aka computerized data bases.

maybe your location is also computerized filing storage systems too so they dont need to ask the basics anymore.

[Echos Myron redux]

In the UK, there's no requirement to take those details, and some therapists don't deem it necessary. The reasoning might be that they wouldn't use those details in a safeguarding situation, they might do things differently. There would be need to be an ethical reason to hold those details, as much as to not hold them. I wouldn't write them off on that basis, but I would probably ask what they would do in case of emergency etc.

[Brown Owl 2]

Thanks everyone for all your replies. I wasn’t sure anyone would reply at all as the board is so quiet these days. I’m seeing this T privately and no-one has referred me to her and she works in private practice from her home, so there’s no way she could have my details. It’s reassuring to hear that others feel this is reasonable. On balance, it seems professional to me for a T to take those details from a client in case the client presents with risks such as being at risk of suicide. Echos, I’m surprised to hear that taking details isn’t seen as standard practice. Every other T that I’ve seen has taken my details down. I liked the T hugely on my second visit, so I plan to continue with her.

[Echos Myron redux]

Originally Posted by Brown Owl 2

Thanks everyone for all your replies. I wasn’t sure anyone would reply at all as the board is so quiet these days. I’m seeing this T privately and no-one has referred me to her and she works in private practice from her home, so there’s no way she could have my details. It’s reassuring to hear that others feel this is reasonable. On balance, it seems professional to me for a T to take those details from a client in case the client presents with risks such as being at risk of suicide. Echos, I’m surprised to hear that taking details isn’t seen as standard practice. Every other T that I’ve seen has taken my details down. I liked the T hugely on my second visit, so I plan to continue with her.

To clarify I think it is standard practice to take details but its not required practice and all I'd want to know is that there is some thought behind it and a safeguarding policy.