they dont .....call........a therapist.

you know how DMV in any state can type in your drivers license or state ID number and it will give the DMV a report on you, whether you have tickets and so on.... same with social security they have a system nation wide where all they need to do is type in your name and social security number and see your "history"

Well treatment providers (physicians, therapists, psychiatrists, specialists ...) they have a central data base system too. where one doctor or any other treatment provider can if they want to, type in your name and date of birth or your name and social security number and see your "history" with physical and mental health problems, allergies and so forth.

next time you go to a pharmacy to have your meds refilled notice whether they ask you name, date of birth and get on their computers, next time you go to the hospital ask them if they keep their files in some room or whether they use a medical data base, ask your therapist whether they have a central data base that is just for the agency or if its an online central data base so that if you travel to another state and need to see someone they can have access to your records. those questions will tell you whether your area is set up in this way or not.