[purplek0ala]

If I was to see a therapist, for newer issues, would we have to revisit old issues resolved with another therapist years ago? Just curious. Thanks in advance.

[ThisWayOut]

You are not obligated to cover anything you don't want to. in the us, a t outside of the agency would need a release of information to access anything from your time with previous t.
I am seeing a t at an agency where I saw someone else a few months ago. It's actuallyquite bothersome that she is asking me to go over stuff that she should know from access to my file...
also, most agencies will not keep files for longer than 7 years...

[AllHeart]

If you are talking about what you discuss in your sessions, you should at least mention to the new T what you worked on with your old T. This could provide the new T with some insight on your current issues.

If you are talking about records, if you live in the USA, you will need to sign a release form allowing your former T to share your files with your new T. T's can't just go sharing amongst themselves without client's written consent.

[SnakeCharmer]

I've heard outpatient therapists say they don't even want to see records of therapy with past therapists. They want to start fresh and experience the client as they are now without being biased by another T's views. Mental health issues are not as clear cut as cholesterol-levels or appendicitis or gall bladder surgery. Unless you bring it up, chances are your T won't be searching out any past records.

This doesn't necessarily hold if someone has had a number of hospitalizations, court mandated treatment or criminal charges.

If it's voluntary outpatient therapy, or if it's with another agency, you probably have nothing to worry about.

[Ididitmyway]

The question in your post is different from the one in the title.

If you want to know if a new therapist will have an access to the old therapist's file, the answer is it depends. If both therapists work at the same agency and you are officially the client of the agency, the therapists can share information without your authorization. If both therapists have private practices, or if one of them is outside of the agency where you were previously receiving the service, nothing about you will be shared without your written permission.

If your question is about whether it'd be necessary for a new therapist to discuss the material from your previous therapy, technically speaking, it's up to you what to work on in therapy, not up to a therapist. Realistically, however, all our issues are essentially the "old issues", or, at least, the new issues are often connected to the old ones. That is to say that with every therapist we still keep working on our "old issues" even though the new ones are often added to that. That's not because we are required to revisit anything, but simply because the old stuff, at least some of it, never goes away..

[Lauliza]

Unless they're with the same practice then a new T won't see your files. If you want to share them you need to bring them with you or have the previous office transfer them. Court ordered treatment might be on a background check but even still, therapists don't do those. Any prior treatment and/or hospitalizations are up to you to disclose if you choose.

[alimak]

It depends where you are going. If you are seeing someone within the same office then they probably going to have access to the records. For instance if you go to a clinic and you switch T's within the same clinic they probably going to have access to those records. At least that is how it is where I work...

if it is a totally different clinic then no.

[purplek0ala]

Thanks for all the responses.
I meant that I'd rather not have to go over old issues if I were to start seeing a new T, so I was just wondering if it would come up. But no, different practices, so hopefully I can start fresh and focus on what's currently needing resolved.
Before, these issues were never really brought to light, and I'm ready to address them.

[Lauliza]

You bring up whatever you feel is relevant or that you want to share. In my therapy very little if anything is ever spoken about my past. I went to address a specific life event and the effects it would have going forward and we've stuck with that focus. I can bring anything up at anytime and some things will come up, but it's not the focus. I've already been in treatment so with some issues I feel like I've been there, done that. There are things that would be useful for insight but they can be addressed if and when you see fit.

[Ididitmyway]

There are no rules in therapy on what to talk and not to talk about. The content of discussions emerges spontaneously and is also coordinated spontaneously between you and your therapist. If you don't want to discuss something, you let the therapist know that, but if the therapist believes that certain things need to be discussed in order for your issues to get resolved, he or she would also let you know that. From that point on, if you and the therapist mutually agree on what you need to work on, the work will proceed, if you fail to reach an agreement, you will have to find a new therapist who would be more on the same page with you.