If you’re embarking on your journey to brighter mental health, it’s crucial to know that you have important rights as a therapy client. Understanding and advocating for these rights can empower you to take an active role in your own healing process.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about your rights as a therapy client. From the right to privacy and consent to the ability to request a therapist switch or access your therapy files, we want you to feel informed, empowered, and confident as you navigate your mental health journey.
By understanding and embracing your rights, you’re taking an important step towards living your brightest life. So, let’s explore your rights as a therapy client and equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make the most of your therapeutic experience.
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The right to help develop a treatment plan.
A treatment plan is created at the start of any therapy journey. It outlines what your goals and needs are and how therapy will work to meet them. Although you don’t have to be involved in the creation of it, a therapist should always get your input into the goals of therapy.
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The right to consent to all practices.
If you are uncomfortable with any of the techniques the therapists use, you have the right to not participate and ask for a different approach.
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The right to request a therapist switch.
Not every therapist will be a good fit for you. You have the right to switch therapists at any time without penalty.
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The right to cancel therapy at any time.
You are in therapy to help you, and it’s the therapist’s job to serve you in this manner. If you wish to stop therapy at any time for any reason, your therapist is obligated to comply in full, including giving you references for other therapists.
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The right to privacy, as outlined by HIPAA.
HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. All mental health professionals are beholden to it. It outlines your rights to privacy as a client, including all information about your being kept confidential. This extends to minors.
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The right to an explanation of techniques used.
You have the right to ask for any explanation about techniques used. Therapists are not allowed to keep this information from you.
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The right to know about how long before you start feeling better.
At the beginning of your time with your therapist they should tell you about how long they expect the therapy journey to take. This is just an estimate, there is no real way of knowing, but a good faith estimate should be given.
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The right to other therapist referrals after termination.
If the client-therapist relationship is terminated for any reason, the therapist is obligated to provide referrals to other therapists, so as to not strand clients without the means to take care of their mental health.
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The right to access any and all files kept on you.
At any point you can ask to receive any information ever kept on you, including treatment history, diagnosis, and therapy notes.
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The right to receive qualified care by a licensed professional.
All therapists must be properly trained and licensed or legally supervised by someone trained and licensed. They should be keeping up to date on their education and be skilled to handle your issues.
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The right to report abuse and grievances to the therapist’s licensing board.
All therapists get their license through a state licensing board. This board handles complaints levied against therapists and has the right to revoke licenses.
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The right to be treated in a manner that is ethical and free from abuse, discrimination, and stereotyping.
Therapists should have zero tolerance for unethical behavior, discrimination, or stereotyping. Any unethical behavior should be reported to the state licensing board.
If any of these rights are not held, you have the right to file a grievance with either their supervisor or the state’s licensing board. All therapists must get their license through this board, and the board has the capacity to take away the license of a therapist if they behave untowardly unethically.
Therapy from trusted providers
Receiving therapy from a trusted practice that vets therapists for you is a good way to ensure you’re getting a therapist who is licensed, trained, and qualified. Also, it’s easier to report grievances to a practice, who can take immediate disciplinary action and get you transferred to a better therapist, than to the licensing board. A therapy practice may also report unethical behavior to their board themselves, making it easier for you.
Lifebulb Counseling and Therapy—and online mental health practice that specializes in training and hiring high-quality therapists—says “We’ve found that therapists who genuinely enjoy where they work are able to provide higher-quality services to those they help. To that end, our primary goal at Lifebulb is to provide our therapists with the best possible environment in which to operate. In doing so, we believe Lifebulb clients are best positioned to accomplish their therapy goals through in-person counseling or virtual therapy.”
By choosing a practice like Lifebulb Counseling, you’re guaranteed to have someone on your side who can vet therapists for you and uphold your rights.
