Confidentiality

Counseling often involves sharing sensitive and personal information with the counselor.  Recognizing this, statutory laws and ethical guidelines require that all interactions with Counseling Services remain confidential.  This includes the content of sessions, records and scheduling of or attendance at appointments.

Exceptions to Confidentiality

For the vast majority of clients, no exceptions to confidentiality are made.  However, there are some exceptions to confidentiality which you should know about before you begin counseling: 

• You may request, in writing, that Counseling Services release information about your treatment to others.
• If there is evidence that a client poses clear and imminent danger of harm to self and or others, a mental health professional is legally obligated to    report this information to the proper authorities for the protection of the client and the community.
• If a mental health professional suspects abuse or neglect of a dependent individual, he or she is required to report this information to the appropriate authorities.
• A court-ordered subpoena can require Counseling Services to release information contained in records or require a counselor to testify in court.