Here that is not true a client can at any time enter their therapy agency and ask to see their complete file. They can't remove that file from the agency building but can stay there in an unused room and read their file and make copies of their own file.

As far as I know that is nationwide but anyone that wants to see their mental health file who is over the age of 18 can contact their mental health agency and thier district mental health agency that over sees their areas mental health rules, guidelines and right of ethics. You can also contact your state board of licensed and certified socail workers who can also tell you what the code is in case your therapy agency refuses you access to your file when in treatment with that agency. I have lived in 15 different states here in the USA and have always asked to see my file while in therapy with that therapist and have never been denied access to my complete file. Sometimes my therapists went through it page by page with me and sometimes I was handed the file and shown into a room where I could sit down and read it while my therapist was in the building so that if I had any questions my therapist would be able to answer those questions before I left the building.

Once a person ends treatment here and in 15 other states where I have lived the therapy agency send copies of the file to the present therapist and the present therapist would allow the client access.