The files are the property of the therapy agency. the original files never leave the therapy agencys unless they put them into a storage filing system or shread them.

The client can at any point request to see those files or recieve a copy of the files but the original file on the client remains with the therapy agency.

I have had 19 different therapists and have moved many times and each time the original file was legally considered the agencys property.

When I requested my file I was given a copy of the files either personally and or by my new therapist photocopying the copies she recieved.

When my child went into foster care DHS was able to also recieve copies of my mental health records. The originals were not released to them only photocopies. When I asked the DHS caseworker why she didn't get the originals she told me legally therapy files are the property of the therapy agency.

When she went to court to get my original files because she felt something was missing from the copies the court said the original files belong to the agencys not me so her trying to have the court requiring me to sign a release form to have the originals turned over to her when she already had copies was denied. She could charge me with being a danger to myself at that moment and start court proceedings to have me involuntarily committed in which case the original files will be supeniaed and the judge would go through the copies and the original to varify that she recieved a complete copy but if she was going to waste the court time she better be sure that I was in fact at that moment suicidal or self injuring.

As for session notes that a therapist writes during the therapy sessions what happens to them depends on the agency protocals. Most times they are entered into the file unless the agency has specific session notes form in which case the notes are rewrote into the spaces provided on the agency form. and agency forms are usually real basil little to no detail - name of client, date, diagnosis, and a sentence or two of what was done during the session for example the last time I saw my form that went into the file it said something like -

(name) (date) talked about PTSD issues today and worked on some coping tools for that. Client is also journaling and using artwork to help herself.

Yes you should be able to get the information that you need just by contacting the therapy agency that you recieved your therapy from. DHS was able to get copies of my therapy records from over 20 years ago by court order. They may want you to sign a release of information form so that they can release your diagnopsis and so on to SSDI. Thats how SSDI was able to recieve my diagnosis and so on along with my going to see the therapy people that SSDI required me to go to to varify my records.