Confidentiality

Counseling often involves sharing personal and private information by clients with their counselor. In order to maintain feelings of trust and safety, visits to the Community Counseling and Family Therapy Center are considered confidential. No one outside the center is given any information regarding what is revealed in counseling or even that a client has made an appointment to see a counselor/counselor trainee unless we have written permission to do so. This includes, but is not limited to, family, spouse, romantic partners, friends, co-workers, employers, professors, or university officials outside the Community Counseling and Family Therapy Center, even if the student was referred by this person. No information becomes part of a student's academic record or employee file.

In order to provide the best possible service to meet a client’s needs, Licensed Professional Counselors, counselor trainee, and faculty supervisors in the Community Counseling and Family Therapy Center may consult with each other. These consultations are for professional purposes only and are aimed at providing the best possible care for all clients. The consultant is, of course, also legally bound to keep the information confidential.

There are some situations in which we are legally required to take action to protect others from harm, even though that requires revealing some information about a client's treatment. For example, if we believe that a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person is being abused, we must file a report with the appropriate state agency. Also, if we believe that a client is immediately and seriously dangerous to himself/herself or to an identifiable third person, we are legally required to try to keep the client and others safe. Lastly, an exception to confidentiality may occur when disclosure is made necessary by legal proceedings. These situations rarely arise. Should such a situation occur, we would make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking any action.