Coordinating care with other therapists is an important part of providing good care to clients. However, you must be appropriately guarded.
Unless you know the other therapist well, do not share any clinical impressions that you have not discussed with the client, even if those clinical impressions may be very valuable to the other therapist. Although we would like to believe other therapists are just like us, some will try to win dominion over the client by purposely damaging your relationship with them by taking your words out of context or otherwise distorting them.
For example, when I first started practicing I was talking to an unlicensed pastoral counselor who took my comments out of context and shared them with our mutual client. This damaged the trust and alliance that I had worked carefully to build with this client. It took me a few sessions, but I was able to re-build that trust and win the client back. I learned a painful but valuable lesson: some therapists will scorch earth in order to build their practices.
So when discussing cases with other therapists, be appropriately guarded. Avoid the temptation to vent, and be very careful how you phrase things. “Just the facts, ma’am” comes to mind.
Also, you should take notes about your conversation, just as you would for a therapy session. Document what you have told the other counselor, as well as what they have told you.
Lastly, work on building strong relationships with other counselors; those with whom you can work well and trust. These individuals can then become part of your inner circle, the people that you feel comfortable sending your clients to. I have a few such people in my network, and the client really does benefit from our seamless integration!
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
