My damaging x therapist got away with murder. He was helpful at times, okay at times. But there were times that he was invalidating and damaging. I saw him seven long years. During those years, he had major countertransference in regard to my attachment issues and he taught me to hate this part of me, like he hates that part of him. He failed to accept me for who I was but tried to change me by shaming me for who I was at the time. IT was HIS job to monitor that and to refer me on. It was HIS job to have the knowledge it took to do the job correctly, which he did not have. I have heard it said that he was "out of his league." I wish I could erase him from my life.

ON another note, has anybody ever requested their files before? How did it go? Thank you!

[here today]

So sorry this happened to you. The blame definitely deserves to go HIS way, not toward you. Therapists complain about how parents do us wrong sometimes and then, they are supposed to be "professionals" or at least do no harm, but that's not the way it always works out, at least it hasn't for me, either.

I asked a psychiatric hospital for my records one time. There was no problem. But I haven't asked an individual therapist -- I don't know what the rules might be on that.

[atisketatasket]

Yes - I find the song and dance about "do no harm" annoying. Since they don't seem to actually have any idea what harm is.

On records, it looks like you are in the US. So you have a right to access your medical records, but under HIPAA you do not have a right to "psychotherapy notes." They can be withheld if the professional deems them harmful to you. (I know this because of the complaint I'm working on against my former psychiatrist, who refused me her notes without giving a reason.)

Did they have to tell you why they thought the notes would be dangerous to you? It makes me wonder what they are writing down. My current T told me if I get the files that we are going to go over them together. Sounds weird to me, I dunno.

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by ~Tsunami

Did they have to tell you why they thought the notes would be dangerous to you? It makes me wonder what they are writing down. My current T told me if I get the files that we are going to go over them together. Sounds weird to me, I dunno.

No, I think they just have to say that in their professional opinion yada yada. If he does that, you can file a complaint or have them subpoenaed to get them. It's also possible your current therapist would have better luck getting them, if you give them permission to speak with the former therapist.