Your Rights in Therapy as a Client

There are a lot of misconceptions about what clients can and can't do in therapy. It can be intimidating to be in a relationship with someone who holds authority, especially one as vulnerable as therapy, so let's even the playing field. As a client, you have authority too.

In therapy, you have the freedom to be yourself and get what you need, how you need it. If you're feeling uncomfortable, you have the right and the ability to advocate for yourself, out loud or silently, because boundaries can be external or internal. You can do what you need to keep yourself safe.

Your therapist is a professional, and should respond to your reactions and feedback with grace and humility. You are the most important person in therapy.

Your rights as a client

You have the right to:

• ask questions and be responded to with dignity
• be picky when you choose a therapist
• change therapists until you find a good fit
• be informed about what you're signing up for, including potential costs and benefits
• come exactly as you are and feel seen, understood, and accepted
• be welcomed into a space where you are respected, included, and treated kindly
• receive fair treatment and trauma-sensitive, high-quality mental health care
• take up space, have wants and needs, make mistakes, and change your mind
• get undivided attention, and accept, refuse, or change anything your therapist offers
• feel safe before you share your thoughts, emotions, fears, and hurts
• take up your therapist's time, and take your time trusting them
• express your unique identities, cultures, and parts of self
• be in a secure relationship where you have choice and power
• speak as little as you want, and choose what to share and what to keep
• say nothing, no, stop, pause, pass, I don't know, I need water, or I need to pee
• be protected from further harm or pain
• get support without being judged, discriminated against, or retraumatized
• rest, set limits, do or not do homework, and honour your body's defences
• object if your therapist does or says something you don't like
• complain if your therapist does or says something that hurts you
• be acknowledged, heard, validated, accommodated, and apologized to
• know what your therapist is writing, and how they'll keep it private
• tell your therapist when you're ready if you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm
• give or withhold consent before anything is tried, without fear of what happens if you say no
• see other therapists and helpers, or take a break from therapy
• stop or finish at any time, and have a healthy goodbye

You have the right to heal and change your life in a way that works for you.

If something on this list isn't happening

If you're struggling with something on this list in your therapy, you don't have to just put up with it.

You can try talking with your therapist about it. Many therapists welcome this kind of feedback, and it can strengthen your work together. You can also ask a friend or another professional how to bring it up.

If talking with your therapist doesn't feel safe, or doesn't help, it's okay to find someone else. And if a therapist has harmed you, you can make a complaint to their regulatory college, which oversees their professional conduct.

Trauma-Sensitive Therapy in Alberta

If you've been looking for therapy where you have choice, voice, and control, reaching out for support can help.

Trauma-sensitive therapy offers a space where you set the pace, your boundaries are respected, and nothing happens without your consent. A therapist can help you feel safe enough to do the work you came for.

You deserve care that works for you.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you or someone you care about is in crisis or at risk of harm, please get help now. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. You can also call or text 988 any time for suicide and crisis support. For more options, see our crisis support page.

About the Author

Carol Korenowski is a writer, speaker, and mental health advocate who created Therapy Alberta.