[ShaggyChic_1201]

I told my therapist about an incident in which I believe my husband broke the law.

Nearly a year later, his new T asked to see me. I went and in the course of conversation, I mentioned how my T responded to that incident (fury, a strong desire to call the police).

H & I are now going thru divorce proceedings. He is very angry that I said these things (tells me I falsely accused him) and that if/when this info (being accused, tho not in court or anything like that) gets out, it will ruin him.

How would it get out? Since there's no imminent harm, it doesn't seem like a reportable act to me.

If I accuse him in open court in front of judge, I could understand how it would be on the record, but is there something I'm overlooking?

Just so I'd keep my silence, H implied he'd provide all old emails to his lawyer to demonstrate that I was crazy. Nice, huh?

[Wren_]

I don't understand why it would come out unless it was something that your T had to report; in which case it would have been done a year ago?

[ShaggyChic_1201]

Thanks Tigergirl - that's what I thought too

[jkbob]

A T can only report something if you tell them you are going to hurt yourself or someone else or if you tell them someone is hurting a child. You could tell your T (and his) that he beats the **** out of you every single day and there is nothing they can do about it.

[Perna]

If a client is in danger, a therapist can and should report it, domestic violence included:

http://www.ncdsv.org/images/When%20I...20Violence.pdf

There is no "reason" for someone to report history though, whether it was lawbreaking or not, unless it has current ramifications. If your ex-husband were to fill out a form saying he had never broken the law and he had and the question were brought up, I would be honest and say I believed he had, that I believe he is lying on the form and give the example. Presumably you are not lying on any forms saying you have never had a mental illness? He could do the same in that case but if you are honest, it won't help him much, old emails.

[Bill3]

I assume that you are not a client of his new T.

Given that, my understanding is that what you told new T is not a privileged communication. This would mean that new T could reveal what you said without violating the professional commitment to confidentiality, and a that court could require new T to reveal it.

I am not suggesting that would be a good idea for new T, or that new T will necessarily do it.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

Thanks Bill - I guess you are absolutely right. I didn't think of it that way.