I do think that therapists sometimes have to take an emergency phone call, but I do believe that they should only do this by setting it up ahead of time and letting their client know before the session even begins that he'll be taking the call. And it should NEVER be an ongoing situation.

An example of an agreed upon "emergency phone call" is a therapist working with a client who is in crisis and the therapist has agreed to take a phone call from a psychiatrist working with the client or hospital admitting the client. (Personally, I think, in most cases, even this kind of conversation can be set up at a time other than a client's session time.) If the situation is related to his family and can't be done at ANY other time, he should reschedule the appointment with the client --still painful, but something clients learn to deal with.

When the call comes, the therapist excuses himself and leaves the room to take the call (I would not want to know anything about what is being discussed during the call--everyone, even your therapist's daughter deserves confidentiality! I'd be wondering if my therapist would as casual with my private information if I ever had an emergency and called during a time she was with someone else. She wasn't even protective of her own daughter's confidentiality, how could I believe she'd be vigilant protecting mine?)

When the therapist returns, it is critical that he opens up the conversation to talk about how the client feels about him leaving in the middle of the session. The therapist, at no time during this conversation, becomes defensive. In other words, the conversation is about the clients feelings/reactions to what just happened. It isn't helpful for the therapist to try and explain or excuse his actions. And a really good therapist is aware of this and will even come back to the issue at the next session to just "check in" to see if other feelings or thoughts had festered during the time between sessions. This conversation really needs to take place face-to-face, in session.

I'm not trying to pile on your therapist, musinglizzy, I just think she didn't handle this situation very professionally. She made a mistake and I hope she's able to owe up to it and process it with you. I don't think it's something I'd personally leave a therapist over, but I'd want to have a very open and frank conversation about it with her. I'd want her to really reflect on how SHE would have felt in a similar situation with her own therapist. Hope you guys are able to work it out.