Confidentiality and Rights

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Confidentiality

Confidentiality is of the utmost concern for counselors, which is reflected very clearly in the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics. The only individual who will have direct access to your files, including information discussed in your sessions, is the counselor with whom you are working.

Records are kept on each session and are not part of your academic records.

No information about your counseling sessions will be released outside Counseling Services to anyone without your written authorization, apart from the following exceptions:

  • When there is risk of imminent harm to you or another person, your counselor reserves the right to take reasonable action to protect life.
  • When a court of law orders a counselor to release information, your counselor is bound by law to comply with such an order.
  • If your counselor has reason to believe that a child, elderly person or disabled person is in danger of being physically, emotionally or sexually abused, then your counselor is obligated by law to report such abuse to the proper authorities.
  • If you disclose sexual misconduct by another mental health professional, your counselor may be required to file a report.

Note: Email is not a confidential form of communication. For confidential communication, you are encouraged to contact Counseling Services by phone or in person.

Client Rights

Clients at Counseling Services have the right to:

  1. receive counseling regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religious beliefs, social/economic class, outward appearance, body size/shape, disability, impairment or political ideology
  2. ask questions about the process of counseling and procedures used at Counseling Services
  3. ask about counselor credentials and training
  4. expect that all information disclosed in counseling will be kept confidential with the exceptions described in the "Counselor-Client Agreement"
  5. participate in the planning of their counseling services
  6. request a different counselor from the one assigned
  7. terminate counseling at any time
  8. and file a grievance about services offered and/or received.