Help Therapist Mandatory Reporting

[scientificmethid]

So I have been working with a (virtual/zoom) therapist for over two years now. Progress has stalled out. Lately they have really been pushing me to be more open about CTB ideations. I am pretty sure once I admit that I have a plan and means of executing that plan they will report me for an involuntary hold. I live in the USA in a state where therapy providers are "mandatory reporters/duty to report". Of course I have a plan, means and the game planned the whole thing a thousand times. I've just never admitted to them because I'm not an idiot.

I think it's better for me to just walk away from therapy that's become ineffective and this way I don't have an involuntary hold or hospitalization on any record that will prohibit me from getting clearances I need for work assuming I last that long.

Thoughts on how to exit the client relationship and not raise suspicions?

 

[kaleisgreatinsalad]

Yeah, I always asked if I talk about suicidal ideations, are you going to report me? He said only if you have a plan right now of a day, time, and how he would report me. They want to help, but at the same time, if something happens and they didn't report it, that would look bad for the therapist. So they normally will want to protect themselves. Just say you've found therapy elsewhere, but appreciate the help they've done if you feel like saying something like that.

 

[tormentedhusk]

just lie to them. tell them you got a different therapist.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

Thoughts on how to exit the client relationship and not raise suspicions?

Aren't you free in your choice of therapy and the therapist in your state? They can't force therapy on you unless your admitted involuntarily?

You can choose to go on with another therapist at any time.

 

[broken_stoic]

I want to be very careful with any advice here. I think it's very important to have a therapist you can trust. You should ask them exactly what their criteria for reporting is, and when/what they will report.

I would want also to consider:

1. What are their stated opinions on suicide and the right to choose? (Mandatory reporting is a thing, but not all therapists agree with it)
2. Whether or not they give you a clear answer to what their standard procedure is
3. How much effort you have put into this therapist vs how helpful they are or are not being

One recommendation for the future, if you are able to choose between therapists, do a consult with multiple therapists before, give them a succinct list of your symptoms (if it's depression/anxiety/etc) and tell them you have struggled with strong suicidal ideation and ask if them if they are comfortable working with someone in that situation. That will weed out alot of people who really aren't ready to work with such cases.

Trust is important, and if you really don't have that with your therapist it might be worth looking for another one. That said, I don't know you situation, and all therapists will legally have madates they most uphold.

If you really want to move on, then it depends on the situation etc. If you have wanted to try a new therapy, tell them that you found a therapist or are looking for a therapist that does a different method you want to try. Or just tell them you feel like you've stalled and there is a personality mismatch and you want to see if you can find a better match. There are alot of reasons to switch therapists, that's pretty normal. Now if they strongly suspect you intend to ctb or some such I'm not certain what, if anything they would or could do. AFAIK previous posts are correct and as long as you don't state explicit an intent/plan they won't report.

 

[scientificmethid]

I want to be very careful with any advice here. I think it's very important to have a therapist you can trust. You should ask them exactly what their criteria for reporting is, and when/what they will report.

I would want also to consider:

1. What are their stated opinions on suicide and the right to choose? (Mandatory reporting is a thing, but not all therapists agree with it)
2. Whether or not they give you a clear answer to what their standard procedure is
3. How much effort you have put into this therapist vs how helpful they are or are not being

One recommendation for the future, if you are able to choose between therapists, do a consult with multiple therapists before, give them a succinct list of your symptoms (if it's depression/anxiety/etc) and tell them you have struggled with strong suicidal ideation and ask if them if they are comfortable working with someone in that situation. That will weed out alot of people who really aren't ready to work with such cases.

Trust is important, and if you really don't have that with your therapist it might be worth looking for another one. That said, I don't know you situation, and all therapists will legally have madates they most uphold.

If you really want to move on, then it depends on the situation etc. If you have wanted to try a new therapy, tell them that you found a therapist or are looking for a therapist that does a different method you want to try. Or just tell them you feel like you've stalled and there is a personality mismatch and you want to see if you can find a better match. There are alot of reasons to switch therapists, that's pretty normal. Now if they strongly suspect you intend to ctb or some such I'm not certain what, if anything they would or could do. AFAIK previous posts are correct and as long as you don't state explicit an intent/plan they won't report.

Thank you very much for the response and sound advice. I appreciate it very much.

 

[broken_stoic]

Thank you very much for the response and sound advice. I appreciate it very much.

I wish you the best and really hope you are able to find a therapist who properly supports you. I know it's hard :)