Confidentiality Statement

The ethical code and standards of the American Counseling Association and the National Board of Certified Counselors serve as guidelines for the Office of Counseling and Testing as we consider your rights and privileges to confidentiality. All information shared with your counselor is held in the strictest confidence.  Practically, this means that without your written permission, your counselor will not disclose to anyone that you are receiving counseling, the nature, or the content of your session. Counseling records are kept separate from academic and student health records. All services are in accordance with state laws. Limits to this confidentiality for the purpose of assuring a student’s safety are well documented and restricted to cases of self-harm or harm to others as stated below.

1.     Duty to warn
“When a client’s condition indicates that there is clear and imminent danger to the client or others, the certified counselor must take reasonable personal action or inform responsible authorities” (NBCC Code of Ethics, Section B, No. 4).  What this means to you:  When a counselor believes you are at serious risk for harming yourself or someone else, he or she will involve the appropriate professionals to protect you and/or others.  In the case of a suicide attempt, the Dean of Students will consult with the counselor involved and reserves the right to contact parents.

2.     When child/elder abuse is suspected

3.     When disclosure is made necessary by legal proceedings.

E-mail
Please note that e-mail is not a confidential medium for communication. Because we are concerned about protecting our students' privacy, Counseling Services staff asks students to practice discretion when using e-mail to discuss clinical issues or make appointments.

Please direct all clinically-related concerns to the confidential voice mailbox of your therapist.

Parent Information
Counseling Services welcomes information from parents on how we might be of service to your son or daughter. We will gladly discuss our services with you and provide some tips on how to encourage your son or daughter to make an appointment.

Please understand that, according to federal and state law, once a student has made an appointment, we cannot reveal information about the individual unless he or she provides written permission that releases us to do so.