Starting therapy can be a daunting process. Sometimes you’re not sure what might or might not happen, and what you should do about it. Here’s a list of your rights as a client in any private practice or therapy agency.
With the rise of AI being used by professionals to help them with notetaking and case conceptualization, pay special attention to #6.
As a client, you have the right to:
- Receive respectful treatment that will be helpful to you.
- A safe treatment setting free from discrimination, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.
- Ask for and get information about your therapist’s qualifications, including their registration, education, training, experience, membership in professional groups, special areas of practice, and limits on practice.
- Have written information about fees, methods of payment, insurance coverage, number of sessions, substitutions (in cases of vacation and emergencies), and cancellation policies.
- Refuse treatment or recommendations from your therapist.
- Refuse electronic recording of sessions.
- Request that the therapist inform you of your progress
- Know the expected length of treatment and be informed of risks and benefits of therapy.
- Report unethical and illegal behavior by a therapist to their regulatory college. You can find this information in the consent form(s) you signed at the beginning of treatment
- Request and receive a copy of your records, including the diagnosis, treatment plan. progress, and type of treatment. Please speak to your therapist directly to get more information on the risks and benefits of doing so. You can also ask your therapist how your personal information is being stored, by whom, and where.
- Request the correction of errors in your record.
- Have your records kept confidential except in the circumstances outlined in the confidentiality section.
- Terminate therapy at any time. Your therapist may ask for feedback but is not owed an explanation for your desire to end the professional relationship.