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How do I job shadow a Therapist if there are the privacy things?

So my teacher sent out an assignment where we all have to job shaddow the career that we scored highest on in this group of surveys; I scored highest in Art Therapy, Music Therapy, and Psycology. I can't job shaddow any of those (that I know of) because of the deal that the therapist makes, saying that they won't repeat anything you say without permission. I have to actually go and be with the person so, any advise?? #career

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Lillian’s Answer

You may still be able to job shadow a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist--it was possible for me after I signed some kind of confidentiality agreement. The psychiatrist I was shadowing also made sure it was an initial session with the client so it was less in-depth than typical sessions and more of just a medical history in-take. I'm not sure if this is possible where you are, but it wouldn't hurt to ask a couple of people in this field to see if they have any options for you.


I also would suggest you talk to your teacher and let them know about your situation. See what they are willing to agree with after you ask them about these following options:

Lillian recommends the following next steps:

Have an informational interview with a therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist. This is where you ask the person questions about what a typical day looks like, how they got to their field, and other similar questions. You can learn more about how to do one here: https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-steps-to-a-perfect-informational-interview
Listen to the podcast known as "Where Should We Begin?" which records real couples-therapy sessions done by a licensed therapist with her clients. This is probably the closest any non-licensed person can get to witness live therapy, and as a counselor, I can personally testify that the sessions are excellent examples of what it's like. The episodes are free on Audible and on through the Apple Podcast app. You can find out more here: https://www.estherperel.com/podcast
Attend a public support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or anything held by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). When I was a psychology student in college, this was often an assignment for us to shadow these therapy groups. These groups are typically facilitated by a therapist/psychologist or someone with a counseling background, and it would provide you some helpful insight into what therapy looks like. To attend one of these, usually all you have to do is just email/call the organization and let them know you would like to observe a session as a student rather than as a participant and they are more than happy to let you attend.
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Raegan’s Answer

Lillian's answer is excellent. When I shadowed doctors, I was asked to sign a HIPPA form stating that all information regarding the patient visits was confidential. This may be an option at one of the therapy clinics. You could also call a therapy clinic and explain your situation. They may let you shadow them and do a mock visit with one of their coworkers.
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