[White Dove]

My T has not asked me for basic details like my address, date of birth and and
name of my GP. I don't think I gave her my surname either. I actually quite like being anonymous, but it feels a bit unprofessional, and I wonder if she might prove to be unprofessional in other ways. Does anyone know what records a T is required to keep in the U.K.?

[stopdog]

I would not give a therapist anything other than mostly my name. Why would they need it?

[Blacky89]

I’m from the uk (although I was scared and put US in my profile haha)
My T asked for my address and email in the first session and assured me she wouldn’t be sending any letters there and it was just for her records.
I wouldn’t have thought it unprofessional if she hadn’t asked for it. I can only imagine she asked for it because if there was an emergency, she could locate me or find my GP surgery

[winterblues17]

I never had to give out much information either. I think my T just has an email and mobile number. Never had to give address or GP details either. I'd have had no problem if asked but it just wasn't mentioned so I don't think it's a must.

[White Dove]

The other T's that I saw all took down my GP details, I just assumed that it was standard, in case of an emergency (I think they said it was in case they ever had concerns about my safety.)

[eye2797]

I have a PO box where I live and I do not think my tdoc has my physical street address. Once a Pdoc asked for Street address, I asked why. I think for emergencies. So they can find you if in crisis.
My Tdoc has my pdocs cell, as do I.
I think they just wan it for crisis and communication,

If you are a suicide risk, a risk to others, a terrorist, or experiencing significant mental ill health your therapist has a professional responsibility to report your vulnerability to the police and/or social services. If any of these instances were to apply to your circumstances how could she act if she only knows your first name?

Have you asked her what records she keeps and what her confidentiality policy is? This is assuming she is in private practice. If she is employed by a voluntary/charity/private organisation, she will also be bound by their policies and procedures.

Don't listen to the therapy rebels here voicing crap about how she only needs your first name. If you become unwell or very vulnerable, such minimal information will not be enough for her to act responsibly and keep you safe.

[Glittering]

I'm in the UK too, my T only had my email address and home address at first. She asked for my GP's details recently because of concern over my ED worsening and me not getting help. Otherwise I don't think she'd have any need to know that information I don't know if there are particular records they're required to keep, might seem obvious but could you just ask her if it worries you?

[stopdog]

No one's opinion is crap. I do not want to help a therapist to have the ability to report me for anything. I do not look to a therapist to keep me safe. I reject the whole notion that it is their place to do so.
But if you do, and if you think it would be a good idea for a therapist to have such information, why not just give them the information you want them to have?

[ruh roh]

Originally Posted by White Dove

My T has not asked me for basic details like my address, date of birth and and
name of my GP. I don't think I gave her my surname either. I actually quite like being anonymous, but it feels a bit unprofessional, and I wonder if she might prove to be unprofessional in other ways. Does anyone know what records a T is required to keep in the U.K.?

I don't know about the UK, but none of these things is concerning to me. I've been seeing my therapist for 3 and a half years and only just gave her my real name a few months ago. I pay out of pocket though, so maybe it's only an issue for those billing insurance.

[feralkittymom]

I don't know about this in UK. In US there have been some changes. Even on-line therapy practices have been under pressure (and I think they have reached agreement) to collect name/address/phone# in the event of emergency contact. Of course, there's nothing on-line at least to prevent giving false info. It didn't bother me, but I had to give my T my insurance card and id to photocopy as I wanted to use the benefit. I've never been asked about a medical dr, but here psych records are generally separate from medical records.

[stopdog]

It is one of the reasons I paid out of pocket rather than using insurance.

[ruh roh]

I'm in the US and psych records are not separate from medical with electronic records. Any provider can access my information. The dx comes up on the screen no matter who is looking. Not long ago, I went in for a wart removal and was asked if I have been suicidal. I was, What in the world does that have to do with my wart? And they said it came up on the screen to ask me that. That is why I pay privately for counseling. I can't undo what is on my record from seing a pdoc, but I sure as h will not let anyone have access to my therapy info.

[Wonderfalls]

I like the idea of going to a therapist for cash, under a secret name. It sounds very film noir.

My therapist, on the other hand is paid through my insurance; the same insurance that pays all my doctors. When I've been very sick I've been glad to have numerous doctors stay in touch with each other.

[feralkittymom]

Could be different for me because any pdoc records are so old. I know they're not part of my medical record. It also may vary acc to diagnosis and risk of sui documented.

Current T records are not part of my EHR. She is listed as a provider under the billing record, but nowhere else, and there's no other info.

[velcro003]

Originally Posted by ruh roh

I don't know about the UK, but none of these things is concerning to me. I've been seeing my therapist for 3 and a half years and only just gave her my real name a few months ago. I pay out of pocket though, so maybe it's only an issue for those billing insurance.

interesting! did you just make up a name and used that?

i filled out an intake form in the first session, though she said i could keep whatever i wanted to blank.

[ruh roh]

Originally Posted by velcro003

interesting! did you just make up a name and used that?

i filled out an intake form in the first session, though she said i could keep whatever i wanted to blank.

No, I didn't make up a name. I have more than one, so I used my professional name, not my legal name.

[feileacan]

I also see my T privately and the only thing he asked me was my first name (and I could have made it up if I wanted to). He now knows my surname because I prefer to pay via bank transfer than cash and he knows the area where I live (because I've told him). But he doesn't know my exact address nor my GP (I haven't seen this person for years anyway) or anything else.

Private T. Gave me a card to write my details on. She didn't even look at it just put it in her files.

[Echos Myron redux]

With the new GDPR laws coming in in the UK, people from all industries are nervous about keeping more data than they need to. My therapist has my address and GP details (or actually my old address and GP details as I've moved since) but there's no requirement to do so.

[weaverbeaver]

My t never asked me for any details ever only the name of my abuser which I will never give. She keeps no information on me only session notes.

I like the fact that she has no information on me and I pay her cash. I don’t think I would like a t prying into my life like that and asking for lots of information.
It’s not a ts job to protect me, I protect myself and unless I am about to die in her office then she can ring the hospital because my gp won’t be able to help either

[White Dove]

Thanks for all your responses, I feel reassured about my T, especially as Echos said it is not a requirement. Because my other T's had all asked for my details, I assumed it was a kind of requirement. I do respect them for taking my details, but I am reassured that my current T is not being necessarily unprofessional by not taking details.

I think this concern is related to wider concerns about whether I have chosen a good T. How can we possibly know at the start whether they are a good T? I think only time will tell.