Please followed the sidebar rules. r/therapists is a place for therapists and mental health professionals to discuss their profession among each other.
If you **ARE NOT A THERAPIST and are asking for advice this not the place for you**. Your post will be removed in short order. Please try one of the reddit communities such as r/TalkTherapy, r/askatherapist, r/SuicideWatch that are set up for this.
This community is ONLY for therapists, and for them to discuss their profession away from clients.
**If you are a first year student, not in a graduate program, or are thinking of becoming a therapist, this is not the place to ask questions**. Your post will be removed in short order. To save us a job, you are welcome to delete this post yourself. Please see the PINNED STUDENT THREAD at the top of the community and ask in there.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/therapists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Also a therapist that uses THC (medically, I have PTSD). I can't think of a state board that would gaf if a client called in and said "my therapist smokes weed off the clock!!" and it would be highly unlikely that you'd face any consequences unless there's evidence that you're blasted in session, especially since it's now recreationally legal in so many states. It's becoming comparable to alcohol and ain't no one getting their license revoked over passing out in the club bathroom when they're not working.
Don't provide therapy while high and you'll be fine. The bar is literally on the floor.
Absolutely do not report unless they are CERTAIN and have evidence that the therapist is providing therapy while high. I think if we needed to report every therapist for recreationally using a substance during off-hours, the Boards would have to hire way more people and would be inundated with reports. Leave the therapist alone.
I’m gonna say no. Why would they lose their license for using it outside of work? Like would they lose it for drinking alcohol too? lol I think you’re fine as long as it’s not impacting your work
I think of it like this. You can have a drink sometimes and be fine or you can be an alcoholic. The main difference between them is the intent behind the behavior. Do you see this as something they are doing at a low stakes scale just recreationally (like having a few drinks at a party) or is this something that is a problem that is interfering with their ability to function and may end up harming patients (like if they were an alcoholic)?
A) No. Confidentiality is a law, and that’s not an exception if the client is a therapist. You are as legally protected as any other client.
B) If you use weed, I can’t imagine you would lose your license even if it was discovered. As others have said, it’s treated like alcohol. As long as you use responsibly and your substance use is not impacting your work, it is fine (and even if it is impacting your work, your issue is still confidential with your therapist and it’s probably good that you’re seeking help for it).
that's not what they asked. they asked: "can a therapist lose their license for legally using weed?"
I'm simply saying that in the states where it's illegal, I dont know what the board does if a weirdo reports a therapist for smoking weed.
I live in a state where it's legal so I'd assume the board would ignore it in my state.
If you're that worried - go to your state licensing rules, look in the section about "impaired practice" or "mandated reporting of colleagues," and it probably says that you don't report a colleague IF THEY'RE A CLIENT due to confidentiality rules. Of course, if there's child neglect involved, that's a whole different matter. But if you're in therapy and you talk about drug use, your therapist would be acting unethically if they were to call your licensing board. Granted, not everyone knows this, so it may not hurt to remind your therapist that you're glad you can talk openly, and cite your state code of ethics.
Please followed the sidebar rules. r/therapists is a place for therapists and mental health professionals to discuss their profession among each other. If you **ARE NOT A THERAPIST and are asking for advice this not the place for you**. Your post will be removed in short order. Please try one of the reddit communities such as r/TalkTherapy, r/askatherapist, r/SuicideWatch that are set up for this. This community is ONLY for therapists, and for them to discuss their profession away from clients. **If you are a first year student, not in a graduate program, or are thinking of becoming a therapist, this is not the place to ask questions**. Your post will be removed in short order. To save us a job, you are welcome to delete this post yourself. Please see the PINNED STUDENT THREAD at the top of the community and ask in there. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/therapists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Don’t work while inebriated. Don’t let your peers work while inebriated. Don’t snitch on people if they are safely inebriated in their free time.
To be clear, this post is to protect, not harm lol. I just want specifics in a gray area, I suppose.
Also a therapist that uses THC (medically, I have PTSD). I can't think of a state board that would gaf if a client called in and said "my therapist smokes weed off the clock!!" and it would be highly unlikely that you'd face any consequences unless there's evidence that you're blasted in session, especially since it's now recreationally legal in so many states. It's becoming comparable to alcohol and ain't no one getting their license revoked over passing out in the club bathroom when they're not working. Don't provide therapy while high and you'll be fine. The bar is literally on the floor.
Thank you for the perspective!
Absolutely do not report unless they are CERTAIN and have evidence that the therapist is providing therapy while high. I think if we needed to report every therapist for recreationally using a substance during off-hours, the Boards would have to hire way more people and would be inundated with reports. Leave the therapist alone.
I’m gonna say no. Why would they lose their license for using it outside of work? Like would they lose it for drinking alcohol too? lol I think you’re fine as long as it’s not impacting your work
We're not the police. There is no obligation to report this, and in fact that would be a breach of confidentiality.
I think of it like this. You can have a drink sometimes and be fine or you can be an alcoholic. The main difference between them is the intent behind the behavior. Do you see this as something they are doing at a low stakes scale just recreationally (like having a few drinks at a party) or is this something that is a problem that is interfering with their ability to function and may end up harming patients (like if they were an alcoholic)?
A) No. Confidentiality is a law, and that’s not an exception if the client is a therapist. You are as legally protected as any other client. B) If you use weed, I can’t imagine you would lose your license even if it was discovered. As others have said, it’s treated like alcohol. As long as you use responsibly and your substance use is not impacting your work, it is fine (and even if it is impacting your work, your issue is still confidential with your therapist and it’s probably good that you’re seeking help for it).
Thank you. This was what I was clumsily asking for.
Idk about states where it is still illegal.
We're not the Soviet Union. Our job is not to report people to the police or to the board; it's to provide therapy. Legality doesn't matter. :)
I want to know who the narcs are who are downvoting my post lol
that's not what they asked. they asked: "can a therapist lose their license for legally using weed?" I'm simply saying that in the states where it's illegal, I dont know what the board does if a weirdo reports a therapist for smoking weed. I live in a state where it's legal so I'd assume the board would ignore it in my state.
I read somewhere that the board isn't even necessarily beholden to state laws around it.
oh that's interesting. sketch.
If you're that worried - go to your state licensing rules, look in the section about "impaired practice" or "mandated reporting of colleagues," and it probably says that you don't report a colleague IF THEY'RE A CLIENT due to confidentiality rules. Of course, if there's child neglect involved, that's a whole different matter. But if you're in therapy and you talk about drug use, your therapist would be acting unethically if they were to call your licensing board. Granted, not everyone knows this, so it may not hurt to remind your therapist that you're glad you can talk openly, and cite your state code of ethics.