I really hate when therapist's put that on a freakin' form! If they meet a new client and feel that a solid initial rapport has been established, I think it's fine for them to ask if there is any history of abuse (emotional, sexual and/or physical), but putting it on a form and asking someone to check a box or pour out their heart on a single line just irritates me.

When I was doing the search for my therapist recently (interviewed over 10), yep 10 , and some had it on a form, some asked during the initial interview and others didn't ask. I never responded to the question on the form, but then I didn't answer other stupid questions either. I feel that an intake form should be: Name, address, phone number, insurance information & emergency contact person. In my opinion, no one should have to reveal information on an intake form; that stuff belongs in the face-to-face discussion that comes afterwards. Lengthy intake forms are a lazy man's attempt to "get it all down on paper" instead of spending the time to build a rapport and talking a bit about what a client can expect from therapy with that person, IMHO.

The few therapists that asked me outright I responded, "Yes, I was sexually abused from age 7 to 11 and I'm not in a place at this point that I want to discuss it. Thank you for honoring my privacy." Of course, I had to rehearse it a few times before actually using that statement. It worked just fine. One woman that I started with told me that she would honor that but in the next session, she ambushed me with a direct question that really triggered me and set me in a spin. Needless to say, she is no longer my therapist. I think we get to decide when we're ready to share that information. I hope you find someone who is a good match.