I requested the copy of my records before I filed a complaint, which is something I suggest everyone to do if you are thinking about reporting. Once the T sends you the copies or the summary of the records, they can't alter them later. At least, that's how it works here, in the US. Regardless, what they have sent to you IS the evidence whether they alter the records later or not.

Here, in the US, specifically in California, Ts have only 15 days to fulfill the client's request for the copies of their records. My T sent me the summary, which I latter attached to my complaint to the board along with my amendment of his summary.

In CA, the client has the right to amend the T's records, which is to voice their objection to anything and everything they feel is inaccurate and doesn't reflect the reality of what happened in therapy. Sure enough, I wrote my amendment as soon as I learned about the law that allowed me to do so. The amendment then becomes a part of the records and the T is legally required to send it to any third party along with the T's records. Again, this is how it works in CA. I don't know about other states.

If the T alters anything after they send you the records, it would badly reflect on them and would work against them during the investigation and the litigation process, so no smart T would do that. They would make sure to write up the summary the best way possible to cover their ***** before they send it out.

I think IG's concern is that her ex-therapist will alter them before sending her a copy. I don't think there's anyway to protect against that, unless a computer expert can show that changes had been made, assuming it was all filed electronically to begin with.

In my experience, a therapist will go to any lengths to protect her/himself (emotionally and professionally), regardless of what it does to the client. They can (and will) do what it takes to justify what they've done.