I've been asking myself this same question lately. My T has only taken notes in 2 or 3 of our sessions, but when he pulled out my file a couple of weeks ago, he had typewritten notes on every session. I was a bit gobsmacked to be honest, and very curious to see what he had written. Of course, I would be scared to look. I haven't even mustered the courage to ask about a diagnosis.

My T does not take notes during session but does do notes post session. I actually would be terrified to read her notes. For me it would "depersonalize" me and the relationship. I don't think I would find anything "bad" or "offensive" but it just seems like something I wouldn't want to know.

I don't really think my T writes her personal thoughts about me in her notes. It may reveal what my T sees in my symptoms or ways to work with me and reminders. She's upfront with this information and I feel satisfied with the education about my conditions, progress etc. Even though I am absolutely certain the notes would be for work not her personal opinion (she's really clinical about her notes). Honestly i think the notes would make me pissed off and set off a ton of shame. I'm at a point in therapy I receive a lot of the feedback and ask a lot of the questions I think would come up on reviewing the notes anyway.

That's my thoughts anyhow, coming from someone who doesn't read therapy books because I like what feels as an "organic" process. I'd rather ask for feedback or ideas and T and I can work through it... I can't imagine any time i would ever want to read them, even if transferring to another T. I'm used to having my notes shared between three providers plus any time I'm in the hospital all those records are released (with my permission) to my team.

My T writes down a ton all session long, I mostly think it helps her remember stuff. It's a common learning style.

Yes, I would read them all with interest. And I have read them on two occasions. I actually asked (shyly) at the end of a couple sessions, "Can I read your notes?" Each time she hesitated a little and then said "Yes" and handed them over.

I don't ask more often because I don't want her to feel inhibited about what to write down by the thought that I'll inevitably be asking to see. Also, her hesitation made me think that if I turned this into a regular thing, it would become an Issue.

On second thoughts, I'm not sure I'd really read them *all* even if she offered. Three years of therapy is a lot of notes and I'm not that bored or that much of a narcissist! However, it would be fun to page through and look at the highlights, the sessions that were key in my mind.

at my last session T said that he had to copy his session notes for another client. he said that he had another client that wanted to go over the notes with him, and then he offered to do that with me! i said "be careful what you ask for"! I am seriously considering doing that. I think, in my situation, it might be beneficial to both building the relationship to a new level and my therapy.

For a court case, I was given a copy of my T's notes from the last 4 years. He expected me to look through them and I did. He doesn't take notes during the session. He does it after I leave on his computer, so there was a lot of cut and paste going on in the notes. Nothing really surprised me. He has to do it under the law. There was nothing "personal" in the notes whatsoever. The tone was of a professional nature--just what I expected.

LJB

Hell Yes!

If I saw T writing like a mad man that would drive me INSANE. I need to know everything. He does not take notes on me and purposely told me so. That perplexed me, wondering if I am not "noteworthy", not worth it. He knows me very well now, but sometimes he has forgotten important stuff and it has really bothered me. He said something to the effect of having no legal evidence....what? I have a history of running hot and cold with him and being unpredictable. Maybe that scares him. He's been around a very long time and maybe stuff has happened in the past from angry clients. Know what, I am bringing this up to him when I see him. I would like clearer reason. Hmmmm...got me thinking now. I have felt insignificant in the past because he does not take notes and sees client after client. I think him taking notes would make me feel important. Time for a chat!

My T almost never takes detailed notes. He records the basics every time, but it involves checking a lot of boxes and not much note-taking unless something really different comes up I guess, or one time, when he was preparing to send in some progress report paperwork and wanted to make sure to have all the details up-to-date. He makes sure to do that part of his job, but I doubt there is much in the way of useful information in there, so I probably wouldn't read it. He used to make notes on the journal entries I emailed him, which I don't do anymore. Those I might be somewhat interested in seeing as they are his thoughts on what I was writing.

PF
I had an interesting experience around notes. My first therapist (who I saw for several bouts of therapy over a course of 22+ years) NEVER took notes during session. She wrote them up afterwards. So the first time I saw my present T it was a bit jarring because he keeps a yellow legal pad in his lap and takes notes during session. At first it made me very self-conscious because as soon as he started writing I would think "whoa, what, what did I just say?! I brought it up to him and he offered to let me read them and I said no, because at the time I was too timid to say yes, honestly.

As time went by, I became accustomed to it and then quite comfortable so that now I barely notice it. Everyone once in a while it crosses my mind to ask to read them, especially since I know he will say yes (which is not true at all times with my T, trust me. ) but there is always a small, still voice inside me which says no. I trust that instinct.

The truth is that so much of our relationship and what is healing about it, is the intangible connection between us when we are together. There is no way to reduce that to words on paper. So I think if were to read the notes, it would feel too clinical because important information would be missing. I also know my T well enough now that most of his note taking seems to be more about things he wants to make sure he remembers. Another part of my attitude is that the notes are HIS work tool and in a weird way I think he deserves privacy about them, the same way I want to keep my journal private although a lot of it is about him. So no, I wouldn't read them. I seem to be a bit odd judging from the other replies.

AG

My current T never takes notes. Not even the first time I saw him. He has been practicing for over 20 years so I guess he has his own system. He may jot down some clinical info in his files after session but I know he does not do it "between" sessions. He once told me that he keeps his notes on me in here (pointing to his head). He said he was very cautious about putting anything on paper that he could be forced to turn over to others (I guess by court order, etc.) and he felt strongly about protecting my privacy. I do think he would allow me to see my file if I asked him because there really is nothing to hide. I have no desire to ask though because our relationship is very transparent.

Old T took notes very rarely but he did a few times. The thing is: when I requested my notes via an attorney when he abandoned me and I was considering licensing board action, it took him NINE weeks to copy my session notes of 2.5 years and to drop them off with my current T. Once I read them I realized it took so long because he made them all up!

Perhaps he didn't realize that I journaled each and every session and what was discussed. None of his "notes" matched what actually happened in our sessions. His notes were vague and just downright inaccurate and stupid. A reflection on his incompetency to be sure. Things like when I revealed trauma, when my mom died, and even the last few sessions were omitted or lied about. His notes said that I decided upon his advice to leave and work with another T. The truth was that I was harshly abandoned in a very abrupt way and I was left with no other T and no support. The outcome was PTSD. So I have very little faith in any notes a T would take.

TN

quote:

He said something to the effect of having no legal evidence....

VH... read my reply above. I think your T means to protect your privacy and not to allow others to use anything against you. He is trying to protect you, not himself. That is my take on this.

Hugs
TN

My previous T used to write notes after the session and then share them with me at the start of the next if I wanted to do so. It was massively triggering and at times meant I did no work in the session because I'd been sent off balance by facing what I'd said the time before. I think the idea was to try to pick up where we left off? I'm not sure. At some point I said I didn't want to do it anymore... but I can't now remember why.

No idea if the T I have been seeing (but now stopped) took any notes at all. She never mentioned it. Probably did if they are a legal requirement - who knows.

TN, I agree with what you wrote. This is exactly what he meant. Thanks!

Sometimes they sound like the same dude!

where i live there are laws in place so that i have the right to see ANY medical or psychological notes written and held about me. the mental health act can be used to block that, but it is decided by an outside authority, and would only be used in extreme circumstances (i.e. the patient had a diagnosis of paranoia and / or could completely mis-interpret anything written about them).

so - i 'could' ask to see them, and if my T refused (not that she would) i have the law on my side so could see them.

but would i? no. I'm not interested. i don't think it would be helpful for me, at all. reading things written about me, and in cold clinical and legal form - it wouldn't exactly be warm and fuzzy!

im in the process of a work review where my professional body are deciding if i need to have ongoing monitoring and reports written by my dr, psychologist and psych dr sent to them in another 3 or 6 months time, or if the monitoring can stay at the level of my treatment team. i will get sent a copy of the letters sent to my prof body, so i will see what my T, my dr and psych dr have to say. all offered me a copy or to go through it with them before they sent them, but i declined.

i'm not even sure i'll read the copies when they re sent to me, to be honest.

PassionFruit,

Great article. Thanks for posting it.

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and opinions. I really enjoyed reading all the responses.

PF