Client Records Should Be Destroyed Once the Client Leaves Treatment or Dies

Abstract

Knowing what to do with client records can be a challenge for mental health practitioners. Those in private practice will need to make these decisions themselves given that they cannot rely on a records office or some other entity found in many agencies and hospitals. This chapter addresses each mental health practitioner’s ethical, legal, and clinical obligations with regard to assessment and treatment records when the professional relationship ends. How to store records, when and how to destroy them, confidentiality requirements, and legal obligations are each addressed. Further, the role of treatment records beyond one’s work with clients is explained to assist clinicians in best meeting former clients’ ongoing mental health treatment needs. The importance of maintaining treatment records as a risk management strategy should complaints be received at a later date is explained.