As a voluntary psychotherapy client you are also a consumer, and you have consumer rights. As a consumer, you have the right to know the following:

1. I have the right to ask for and get information about the therapist’s qualifications, including her license, education, training, experience, membership in professional groups, special areas of practice and limits on practice.

2. I have the right to get respectful treatment that is helpful to me and I have the right to end therapy at any time. If requested, this therapist will provide me with the names of other qualified therapists or assist me in seeking a higher level of care if needed.

3. I have the right to ask questions about what we do during therapy and to receive answers that satisfy me.

4. I have the right to decline to answer any question or give information to the therapist that I choose not to share.

5. I have the right to know what records are being kept on me and who has access to them. I have the right to see all the information in the therapist’s files about me, or have it shared with another professional at my request.

6. I have the right to keep what I say to a therapist and the fact that I am seeing a therapist private, unless I sign a written consent allowing this information to be shared. This is true, except under certain circumstances, such as:

   a. If I am perceived by the therapist as being at imminent risk of harming myself or others, the therapist may take action to keep myself and/or others safe (this includes the safety of the therapist).

   b. If I reveal information indicating sexual or physical abuse of a minor, elder adult or disabled person, I understand that the therapist is required to report this to the state with or without my consent.

   c. If the therapist receives a court order requiring release of my file or the therapist to testify about me, I understand the therapist must do so, with or without my consent.

7. I have the right to know how much my treatment will cost, how much time this treatment might be expected to take and what risks are involved in treatment.

8. I have a right to know whenever sessions are to be audiotaped or videotaped.

9. I have a right to ask that all office policies be made clear to me before starting treatment.

Feel free to ask any other questions that may occur to you. Remember that as a consumer you can ask any questions you need to as they pertain to your treatment.

If you have any concerns about the above points, and if you cannot get a satisfactory answer from your therapist, contact the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences for advice. (www.bbs.ca.gov)

In California, The Department of Consumer Affairs receives questions and complaints regarding the practice of psychotherapy. If you have any questions or complaints, you may contact this department by calling (800) 633-2322 or (916) 263-2699.

Before making a consumer complaint, however, you should realize that psychotherapy can, at times, provoke difficult emotions. When this happens, you should be using psychotherapy itself to talk about such feelings. Also, your therapist should be aware of your feelings and should be helping you verbalize them. A consumer complaint against your therapist is warranted only if you cannot work out the problem within therapy—or if your therapist does something blatantly illegal or fraudulent.

IN ALL CASES, PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT NEVER INCLUDES SEXUAL CONTACT WITH THE TREATMENT PROVIDER.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act