[Focus62]

I have a question: do therapists have to report threats made on you by another person?

Without getting into too much detail - The threat isn't something that would appear as a threat to anyone unless they actually understood the situation... I received a letter in the mail from a person I have been no contact with for the last 2.5 years. They are not supposed to know where I live and I have no idea how they found out. All the "letter" is is a printed airline itinerary that says "See you soon." So it's not a threat on my life or anything, but this person has terrorized me for many many years and contact with this person is never not dangerous... To me the "letter" is a passive-aggressive threat.

Would my therapist have to report this to the police if I talked about it with her? I really want to but if anyone is going to get the police involved, it's going to be me, not her. I am not a minor and I have absolutely zero intention on meeting this person face to face (if/when they show up to my place, the cops will be called if they refuse to leave my door step). I live in NC, USA if that matters.

[QueenCopper]

From my understanding they are required to report threats of harm on yourself or if someone else is threatening you maybe harassment, violence. There maybe a few more but I cannot remember what they are. Unless you tell your therapist that meeting this person poses a danger to you, I don't know what they would report.

[atisketatasket]

I don't think she'd have to report it - there not being any explicit threat or knowledge of a plan to commit a crime - but she'd probably want to know your plan to keep yourself safe, or advise you to apply for a no contact order, or to give the police a heads-up. (Easy to do since you know the person's itinerary.)

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Focus62

I have a question: do therapists have to report threats made on you by another person?

Without getting into too much detail - The threat isn't something that would appear as a threat to anyone unless they actually understood the situation... I received a letter in the mail from a person I have been no contact with for the last 2.5 years. They are not supposed to know where I live and I have no idea how they found out. All the "letter" is is a printed airline itinerary that says "See you soon." So it's not a threat on my life or anything, but this person has terrorized me for many many years and contact with this person is never not dangerous... To me the "letter" is a passive-aggressive threat.

Would my therapist have to report this to the police if I talked about it with her? I really want to but if anyone is going to get the police involved, it's going to be me, not her. I am not a minor and I have absolutely zero intention on meeting this person face to face (if/when they show up to my place, the cops will be called if they refuse to leave my door step). I live in NC, USA if that matters.

here in the USA the rules for this is different for children vs adults. for adults no therapists do not have to report if someone has made a threat on the client.. that said if the client is the one making the threats yes.

short version once a person turns 18 they are considered to be responsible adults capable of making their own mental and physical health decisions even when it comes to someone making a threat of harm against them. even in domestic violence situations nothing can be done unless the victim decides to make a report.

that said in situaitons where the cops get called ie a neighbor or the therapist witnesses the threat of harm they can as a witness make a report stating they witnessed a crime. anyone can witness a crime and report it.

for children its a bit different, if a minor is in danger yes treatment providers must report possible threat of harm. then child protective services investigates the threat of harm against a child.

[itisnt]

Yikes, what a scummy thing for that person to do! If I got something like that in the mail from someone who I have purposefully broken contact with it would give me chills.

I agree with others that I don't think that your T will have to make a report to the police. If you threatened to hurt yourself or someone else, then she'd have to report. If one of her clients threatened to hurt you or someone else, she's required to report that. She will want to talk about it with you and to make sure you have a plan to keep yourself safe. I really hope you go down to talk to your local police. Even though the person hasn't made an actual threat on your life, it is definitely an attempt to intimidate you. Ugly, ugly thing for someone to do. Take care!

An adult. I'm sure if you tell the T how more than able to report this, that will be that.
One of my abusers appears in our news from time to time. If not him, his family. I had to get T to promise what I say in session regarding him stays in session. T agreed to that. T

[Lauliza]

Ts do not have to report threats made to an adult. There are no mandated reporters for adults unless they are seriously disabled or elderly.

[ThisWayOut]

As others have said, t will not have to report that. If there was a protective order, t might encourage you to report it to the police, but t wouldn't be able to break confidentiality around it unless you gave permission (unless you fall into a protected class such as gravely disabled, a ward of the state, elderly...).
I'm sorry this person is harassing you. I hope you are able to get t's support around it all, and you are able to keep yourself safe...

[ruh roh]

I agree with those that say the therapist is not going to report this. For one thing, it's very hard (at least where I live) to get the police to respond to much of anything since they are focused on active crimes (and, again, around here, someone has to pretty much be causing physical harm or taking over the downtown core with violent protests). I only know of two people the police responded to with amped up patrols, but that was because they were in the same circle of influence (political figures) and there were actual threats by someone who had been convicted of a similar crime. That's just to say...it's hard to get anyone to act. So I wouldn't worry about your therapist in this case, but I would definitely talk to her about ways to protect yourself in this situation.

Other than what a few posters said about the legal side, I don't see what a T would report if they did not have access to specifics of the source. I.e. you received this letter in the mail and could tell T about the story because you want to discuss it but give nothing out that would identify the person. I don't think I T would get into detective work to go after them.

[unaluna]

In north carolina?

Maybe if they try to use the wrong bathroom...