posted on Apr, 20 2013 @ 01:09 AM
Wow. How startling. As an intern in the mental health field (not psychology or counseling, I have a technical degree,) I can say that it is legal
for a practitioner's clinical notes to be subpoenaed. However, a practitioner's personal notes (the majority of notes taken throughout the
therapeutic process) are considered privileged information and cannot be subpoenaed or confiscated by law. How can anyone expect to benefit from a
relationship with a counselor, psychiatrist, or mental health professional if there is no confidentiality? It is at the center of everything
therapists do. This is downright unconscionable. When I heard that Obama planned to expand mental health services as part of this new gun control
initiative, I was initially relieved. Public mental health desperately needs funding and resources. If this is the federal or state government's
idea of monitoring mental health practices, they can expect an increase in violence because nobody can seek help privately.