Not only was it wrong, Iamspecial, but it is illegal. Your medical/mental health information is confidential unless you sign a release. It's not even legal if the person asks you and you verbally say, "Yes." The person needs a signed release. It's great that your therapist is being proactive and setting up a "backup" person for you in case of an emergency and she isn't immediately available, but she should have spent a session setting up the introduction of this new person to you. Springing the person on you is definitely not okay! I've been caught in these situations with medical doctors. You go for an exam and the doctor walks in with a visiting resident and says, "You don't mind if Dr. So and So observes, do you?" It isn't really a question because the doctor immediately launches into the exam portion, never expecting me to say, "Uh, yes, I actually do mind." I've finally gotten to a point where I'm able to actually object to this invasion of privacy without feeling I'm guilty of being uncooperative or rude. Our medical and mental health issues are private and we have the right to maintain control over who and when someone else is invited into our confidence. I hope you're able to talk about this with your therapist and let her know that you appreciate her efforts to give you the support you need but you expect her to respect your privacy and talk to you first before springing something like this on you. And if it's too hard to say the words to her in person, write it out and give it to her! She needs to know she stepped over the line.