Quick Question

I terminated my therapy recently, but long before I terminated (or even thought about terminating) my T asked me to promise her that if I ended up in the hospital (medical not mental) that I would call her...Yesterday I got put in the hospital and I debated about calling her because she is no longer my T...I didn't know whether I should or shouldn't call since the therapy had been terminated and the promise was made long before termination...I did call and left a message for her but she never contacted me...Can she contact me even tho the she is no longer my doctor?...Was I wrong for calling??...Thanks JFB

I don't see why not. I'm glad you called her. I hope she returns the favor. Sorry to hear you needed the hospital, but it's a good thing to use for stablizing and refocus on healing. TC

hmmmmm....I don't think you did any harm but I am not sure why she would want you too call other then maybe sending your records??? I guess I would just leave it as it is because she gave you no reason as too why she wanted you to call. Anyhoot, hope you are ok if you had to go in!!!
Cher

Since you terminated legally she is not your therapist so she has no therapeutic obligation to call you when you landed in the hospital. therapeutically you need to contact your present therapist if you have one if not its up to you whether or not you see someone else.

Legally no she cannot contact you. here in the united states therapists are prohibited from being in contact with ex clients for a certain time frame set down by that states board of clinical social workers. some states set that time frame at as little as 6 months and could go up as far as 2 years.

The only exception to this is if you and that therapist decide to work together again or that therapist agrees to help you transition to a new therapist.

After the 6 month -2 year time frame the ex therapist and ex client can legally be considered friends.

Thanks for the replies...

Myself...that's what I thought that she couldn't contact me...But I needed varification of it...And not that it matters but I wasn't in a mental hospital...It was physical...JFB

HUH???? How's that again? APA licensed (Psychologist's) should not become romantically involved with a former patient. There's nothing at all that says they can't contact you, especially since it was prior agreement.

Think about this... you see a doctor, you stop seeing a doctor. You want to see that doctor again, and ??? Of course you're allowed to recontact them! AND they are allowed to become your doctor again. Either way, communication is required and not illegal. How else would people make contact and get back into therapy????

Sometimes ppl forget that patients and doctors are also human beings...civil human beings. A courtesy call would be expected, imo.

My ex T wrote me a letter acknowledging my termination of the therapy...She stated in the letter if I wanted to come back to resume therapy with her she was more then willing...
She also stated that she was available for emergencies until May 4th 06...I've always been told that once the therapy was terminated she could not contact me but I could contact her...JFB

There ya go! SHE won't originate the contact, that's all...it has to come from you... I hope she can help you again ..more... there's nothing like that bond of the therapy relationship, once trust and understanding is built!

Sky...The therapeutic relationship is extremely dangerous and I won't touch it or a relationship with another human being with a 10 foot pole...My pup is all I need...JFB

Dogs are good people!