What are a therapist's boundaries?

I don't really know what a T can ask from a client or what a T's boundaries are so I am asking. I believe it is true that a T can not touch a client if stated by the client not too...is this true with any incident? If a client says no, then the T has to comply? What about Ts asking to see cuts or bruises from self-harm or abuse? Do they have the authority to ask such questions? All I know is that they have the authority to call cops if needed, or to call for a pdoc and to put a client in hospital if needed.

You've got it, GenCat--except when T has reason to believe you're a threat to yourself or others, you call the shots.
Ts cannot touch you or require you to touch T in any way, even a handshake, unless you are fully in agreement. Ts can't sit next to you if that makes you uncomfortable.
Ts can't require clients to show cuts/scars/etc. They can't require that you bring in old diaries for them to read, give them access to your FB page, or any passwords to anything ever.

These sound more like your boundaries within therapy rather than the therapists boundaries which is another thing you might want to ask them about. Good to raise this question as well if there are other concerns If there is anything your therapist is going that is making you uncomfortable let them know

If my T asks to see my marks and I say no T will respect that. I do show her my marks anyways because no matter what I show her T probably imagines worse when it comes to me. I've asked T not to call me unless I tell her it's okay through voice-mail or note and she respects that. Absolutely no intensive out-patient, avoid at all costs hospitalization and T has yet to hospitalize me.

However my T does repeat questions if I avoid them but I've asked her to do that too.

It seems like you can set rules up with your T. If you are worried about hospitalization ask to set clear statements If ______________ happens then I agree to be hospitalized type thing.

I think it depends on where you live and what kind of T you see, but I would think a T needs to take no for an answer unless there is a compelling therapeutic reason not to.

I think they can ask any questions. The issue is whether they have the authority to demand answers and I don't know - but my T is in private practice and has no right to demand anything from me really.

T's can ask, demand, whatever they think is best for you and your particular therapy situation. They generally aren't going to touch you or anything like that in the first place, not because it is a boundary or they're "not allowed" but because it's "talk" therapy. There are other types of therapy where touch is extremely appropriate and there are individuals who want literal hand holding, hugs, touching, etc. but if you do not want that they are probably going to ask first and you just say "no".

As far as seeing scars, etc. that would be an individual thing and you and your T would talk about it, etc. If your T thought looking at your scars was a good idea and you did not, you or your T might decide you needed to see someone else in therapy; deliberately hiding or not cooperating with a particular therapist's program would generally mean you and that therapist did not work well together and the therapist would probably not think they could help you so would suggest you see someone else or you'd decide you didn't like their "rules"/demands and decide to go see someone else, etc.

These seem to be questions about your boundaries, not your T's boundaries. You definitely have the right to uphold your boundaries. If you don't want to be touched by your T, show your T your cuts, or answer certain questions from your T, you don't have to. You just tell your T "no." That is maintaining your boundaries. If the T does not respect your boundaries, and tries to touch you or look at your cuts when you have said "no" that is a violation of your boundaries by your T.

I work at a hospital and ask patients all sorts of things as part of my job. If they say "no," that's fine. If they don't want to show me their cuts or talk about them, that's fine. We just move on. However, I may have to ask them the same question the following day, even though they have previously said they didn't want to answer this question. It is a requirement of my job. I rely on the patient to tell me "no" again, and sometimes they have changed their mind. The closest parallel I can think of with a T is asking about suicidality. Based on the client's state, they may feel they need to ask this each session, even when the client has indicated a reluctance to discuss.

Also different Ts may have different boundaries.

Those are definitely your boundaries, not T's. And you are entitled to them. You will find that they change with time and trust.

if the therapist thinks you are a danger to yourself or others, or have been abused, they can report it.

as for touching, they should ask before touching the client, and be respectful if the client says no.

as for looking as scars, i think that is up to the individual case. there is no rule that says that is or is not ok. they can ask, but i think its ultimately up to the client whether or not they say ok.

all therapists follow a general code of ethics that you can probably look up online. but a lot of times, for the little things like that, its up to the therapist how strong their boundaries are and a lot of times, the boundaries vary with the individual clients.