The Likelihood of a Therapist Keeping Child Therapy Records

Did you wonder if the therapist who treated you as a child still has your records? It might be tempting to imagine that these records are meticulously kept, especially if the treatment was a significant event in your life. However, the reality is quite different. It is very unlikely that a therapist from two decades ago still maintains records for a former child client. In this article, we explore the reasons behind this and provide you with valuable insights to help you understand the retention policies within the mental health and therapy industry.

Common Wisdom and Reality

It is understandable to harbor doubts regarding the longevity of your therapy records. Based on common practice and general assumptions, it is pretty unlikely that a therapist would retain records for 20 years. Most professionals in the field adhere to specific guidelines and legal requirements, which significantly reduce the probability of such records being kept.

State-Specific Laws and Policies

Each state has its own set of laws and guidelines that dictate how long therapy records must be retained. These laws vary, but they are generally stringent. For instance, some therapists may destroy records as soon as they are legally permitted to do so. This practice is especially prevalent for older records stored in paper formats. As therapy practices expand, the need for physical storage space decreases, making it necessary to destroy old records.

Even for digital records, some therapists opt to destroy them once the legal holding period has expired. This is often for practical reasons, such as freeing up storage space, as well as for legal reasons. It is important to note that, while these laws and practices exist, they do not necessarily mean that your records are preserved. Sometimes, even with no storage space restrictions, records are destroyed for other logistical and legal reasons.

Therapist's Perspective on Current Factors

A therapist does not need detailed records from 20 years ago to provide effective treatment. Today's therapy sessions focus primarily on current stressors and life situations. Most issues that a client brings to therapy today are different from those they faced two decades ago. Even if the issues are the same, a brief review of the client's history can still be sufficient to provide effective treatment. This perspective underscores the importance of the present and ongoing issues in therapy rather than historical records.

Steps to Take

While it is unlikely that therapy records from 20 years ago will still be kept, there are steps you can take to confirm this for yourself. You can contact the therapist or the institution where you received therapy to enquire about the retention of your records. Another option is to consult the local or state licensing board, which often addresses this issue in their guidelines.

Conclusion

The likelihood of a therapist keeping your childhood therapy records for 20 years is very low. Understanding the laws and practices surrounding therapy record retention can help ease your concerns. Whether through contacting the therapist or consulting legal guidelines, you can find peace of mind by seeking answers directly. Remember, the focus of therapy today lies in addressing current challenges, which makes your past treatment history, while significant, no longer necessary for ongoing treatment.