I get both therapy and psychiatry (meds) from my college. I haven't signed something that says they can talk, but i was wondering if they can because i get treatment from the same place. Does anyone know? Do they alert each other of my mental status?

[kimmydawn]

EV, I'm in the same situation. My ta psychologist, so I don't think he has to consult with anyone. He has told me that he's discussed me with others and not used my name, though. However, I think many t's (depending on the license they have) do have to consult with someone for dx, treatment plan, etc. This is only my understanding from talking with others, though. So, you can take it with a grain, because I don't always understand.

Even if your t does have to report, it doesn't mean that it's too your psychiatrist. I would ask t about that. I'm sure they'd tell you.

good luck!

KD

[dexter]

I know that mine do, they let me know openly, for example if I bring something up in therapy that relates to my meds he'll let my pdoc know so that when I have a session with her I won't forget to bring it up.

In my case the two work in the same office, for the same organization.

I know you sign privacy forms when you start, there may be something in there that specifically addresses this.

I don't know if all cases are the same. I would ask them, there is no harm and you have a right to know.

[bipolar_bear]

EV - I had to sign papers allowing my T and Pdoc to talk to each other. They don't do it often untless something is going on that the other should know about. They tend to work as a good team providing the best care I can get. They don't disclose anything to the other that they don't think is pertinent to the others part of the treatment.

As I understood it; you have to sign papers prior to them consulting each other. This may vary from state to state or in house practices but the best way to find out is to ask your t. They will tell you.

[lenjan]

Mine talk to each other as needed, but I did have to sign a disclosure form allowing that to happen.

My old T used to work for the same clinic in the same building and had offices down the hall from each other, so occasionally they would discuss me when they both had the same amount of free time. It made me feel better knowing they were both up to date and concerned enough to make sure they were coordinating my care.

candy

My therapy office does not contact the meds prescribing professional (family physician or psychiatrist or psychologist) with out a signed release of information be it for meds or other purposes.

This state does have mental health continuity of care guidelines where if more that one therapy personnel is involved with the client or family unit that both treating professional have the option of working together. But becasue of the new HIPPA privacy laws all parties must have a signed release of information from the clients on file.

personally I always sign one for my family physician (prescribes any meds that I need be it anitdepressants or for physical problems). This way the treatment plans that I have with both do not conflict causing me more problems or harm.

another situation involving continuity of care is mY son having one therapist and I have another. My sons therapist was the designated therapist for family therapy. The DHS caseworker refused to allow my therapist to participate in the process. when the caseworker breached HIPPA by opening my therapy letter and making copies of it, and distributing it to those on the case I reguested an investigation. One of the things that got her fired was that she was not following the continuity of care guidelines. The present DHS caseworker refused to release information so my therapist and I asked my lawyer for his advise and he went into court and got a court order for therapist contact based on the fact that my son's therapist is incharge of visitation so according to continuity of care guidelines the two needed to be working together. The court order was granted. Even though the court order gave my therapist and my sons therapist contact both sides have to sign those release forms before the two talk. DHS has figured out how to use this to their advantage. Everytime my son is moved he recieves a new therapy team. DHS caseworker does not call me or my therapist to let us know the contact information. His reasoning is that the case coding does not allow him to contact me. Well my lawyer says he can contact my lawyer and/or my therapist for that information. The caseworker is intimidated by my therapist because we got the court order. so we can wait forever on waiting for that phone call so now every other month I meet with my lawyer for an update and if he doesn't have one he contacts the caseworker for the information. So much for DHS not following this states mental health contiuity of care guidelines and a court order. Oh well Im rambling so take care all.

[JustBen]

Yeah, you probably have to sign some papers to that effect. (Are you sure you haven't already? The informed consent document you probably signed when you started therapy might have had something about within-agency consultation in the small print.)

[(JD)]

My T does not discuss anything with my MD unless I request it (and only then after we agree it would help.) IF you say you do NOT want then to discuss you without your knowledge, they must honor this... but you probably have to put it in writing (thus cancelling anything you might have signed..) I'm sure any agreement had to be disclosed... but you may have to look through a lot of college papers to find the agreement! Good wishes. Hopefully, both of the doctors would work together to help you, as they are part of YOUR team, right?

[quality_worms]

If I start seeing a psychiatrist, I'll be in the same position as you. I didn't read my consent form very carefully (...oops) but the first time I saw the counselor, she said that anything I say will be confidential within the center, which implies to me that they're allowed to share information. Actually, my situation is somewhat different because my therapist doesn't have licensure yet, but I know that it's not unheard of them to discuss intakes. I didn't make a big deal out of it because all I really care about is that they don't go telling my parents or my professors, and it might even be an advantage to me if my therapist is getting input from someone else.

So anyway, I guess my answer is, "I wouldn't be surprised if they did." I'd bet that they have to tell you if you ask.

My therapy agency (as did every one of my 18 past professionals did) has weekly meetings to discuss the cases and any problems with them. This is called a Staff meeting. then the therapists at this agency also have what is called Supervision. Where the therapist meets with their supervisor to discuss thier caseloads. so they have a chance to go more in depth at finding out what the clients need and can help them better. I didnt have to sign a release form for either. fron what I can see its just a part of the package of working with a therapy agency instead of private practice.

[(JD)]

There is what is called "professional confidentiality." It means professionals DO discuss shared patients with the implied understanding that neither of them will share the information with anyone else.. it allows for better communication and understanding, and in general, better care.

yea. but not here. the staff meetings and Supervision here doesn't have any thing to do with two professionals on one case. here the staff meetings are like every tuesday all the professionals at this one agency meet in one room all at the same time. Any office issues are covered and then they go around checking in on the cases. this is basically so that they all are involved a little helping to suggest ideas if theres any problems or sharing what one therapist did with their cases (no names of clients allowed) to solve a problem when someone else may be having the same problem. they talk about the good stuff too. For example I shared my Nancy J Napier stuff with my therapist. she liked it so much that she took it in to staff and showed the material around (not saying which of her 65 clients was working with it just that one was and she thought it might help the other therapists and their clients) Now apparently there are many professionals all gun hoe about this material. Supervision - Each therapy personnel at this agency has to meet with their assigned supervisor. In those meetings the therapist goes over each and every case (not in the same meeting obviously because of time) during that time. for example my therapist L meets with Supervisor N. during this meeting on this day they go over cases X,Y,Z. - X is schito, Y is depressed, DID and Z is an alcoholic court mandated domestic violence case. For each one of these cases they go over the case plan, goals, whats been accomplished, what hasn't been accomplished and any problems the therapist is having with the client, any ideas that the therapist has that may help the client, gaining the supervisors approval for any near future goals, activites and ideas. Now for my case L sees E for supervision. This is because my past therapist "Sue" had E as a supervisor since I began with the agency. So for continuity of care it was decided to keep the same supervisor that has been on the case from the beginning. So I have an advantage in that when L goes to E for supervision they spend the whole supervision time on discussing me (some would call this a disadvantage but I don't) I consider E my guardian angel. I have never met her but she like an agel sitting on my shoulder - she has gone to bat for me when I was with "Sue" against the worse DHS caseworker on earth, and she has never once steared "sue" and I wrong. E has been in the field for 45 years and knows what she's doing. Anyway when E and L get together they go over my case plan, goals, projects, ideas, E a few weeks ago gave approval for my therapist to use agency funds to get me the 8 tape set I want to go with my Nancy J napier book Recreating Yourself, and sent my therapist back to me loaded with questions about a project in the works. partly because she's curious and partly because she wanted me to think about a few things and partly because until yesterday I have been giving my therapist only bits and pieces of whats what with this project. I knew L would need time to get to know me and the type of person I am before she could help with the project I am working on. So I only told her a little at a time so I wasn't overwhelming her and end up getting the project shot down. E knows from being on the case so long that I know what Im doing and from the wording of her questions most likely she thought it was time I clued both her and my therapist in on the complete project and how they can help me accomplish my goals that I haven't disclosed yet with this project. Anyway thats what my agencys staff meetings and supervisions are like. I don't see anyone else in this agency but my therapist E. so I'm not "shared" by any two or more therapists. Its just the way United states therapy agencys are in general if its not private practice they have staff meetings to discuss any problems the staff is having and that includes their clients. All therapy personnel are supervised by someone and they have to answer to that person so its only common sense that they would discuss their clients during supervision . that way for example if a client makes an allegation against the therapist the supervisor knows the case and can help to the best of their ability. In most agencys everyone also takes turns carrying a beeper and being the therapist on call so again its common sense that all therapists in the agency get to know all the case files in case someone calls with an emergency. But they don't share and meet with the cleints separately. I am L's client and no one elses, M is G's client and no one elses, A is C's client and no one elses. I didn't have to sign any release forms for them to do this its just the way agencys work. If I was being seen in private practice - one therapist running her own therapy business where she is the only therapist there, and I saw someone outside of her and her office for meds then I'd have to sign a release form for her to talk to the other person that I am seeing. There is no professional confidentialty of shared clients there. The therapist can't just go to the other outside the agency professional to talk to them without my permission. Inside the agency the only time I am talked about is during staff and supervision.