Why do therapists ask about family?

Were you always compared to another family member? Therapists are often looking to suss out patterns, many of which tend to be dutifully followed in a less-than-conscious way. Emotional patterns could be strong feelings that come up for you seemingly out of nowhere. A therapist may ask you if a feeling is familiar.

Can you ask your therapist to not tell your parents?

Psychologists generally can’t contact anyone else without your written consent. If you have specific concerns about confidentiality or what information a psychologist is legally required to disclose, discuss it with your psychologist. He or she will be happy to help you understand your rights.

Can your therapist talk to your family?

HIPAA allows your therapist to talk with your family about your mental health treatment in a variety of ways. If you are present and capable of making decisions and want your family to be involved in your treatment, HIPAA allows your therapist to share your information. When you are at a mental health care appointment.

Why do therapists always ask about childhood?

Therapists ask you about your childhood because your early life is when you learned what and how to feel. For example: How did you learn to manage your emotions? Were there emotions that weren’t OK to feel, like anger or sadness?

Will a therapist tell your parents what you say?

Knowing that you can say anything to your therapist and it will remain in the room helps you feel safe and builds trust between you and the therapist. For this reason, all therapists are legally and ethically bound to keep their sessions confidential and not share with anyone else what was talked about.

What will my therapist ask?

Here are some of the questions you may be asked and why:

• What prompted you to seek therapy now?
• How have you been coping with the problem(s) that brought you into therapy?
• Have you ever done therapy before?
• What was it like growing up in your family?
• Have you ever thought of harming yourself or ending your life?

Do all therapists ask about childhood?

It’s not a direct line, and each person’s stories and influences are unique. So what you will talk about in therapy, in terms of your childhood, will vary from person to person—and, frankly, from therapist to therapist. But every therapist will express at least some curiosity about your childhood.

Should therapists offer parenting?

And if that sounds creepy and off-putting, it should, but the reason I note it is that there are things parents do that therapists absolutely never should do—and quite a few others that are sometimes or occasionally appropriate, but where we need to proceed with a great deal of care and intention. We’re not really offering parenting.

What do parents want to know about their child’s therapy?

Parents routinely want to know all about what their child is talking about in therapy. Children often ask “Do you have to tell my parents,” before they will disclose something. There are no simple answers. Two primary questions here.

What are the legal requirements for a parent-therapy session?

The exact legal requirements are another issue that varies with the jurisdiction. The parent, therapist, and the child may also discuss ahead of time just what things will be told to the parent and what should be kept confidential. Some parents want to know everything the child says.

What should I talk to my counselor about with my parents?

If you are that teen in therapy, have this conversation with your counselor. Ask them what sorts of things they will be telling to your parents and what is confidential.