Confidentiality and Limits to Confidentiality
Counseling may involve sharing sensitive, personal and private information. Recognizing
this, laws and ethical guidelines require all interactions with Counseling Services,
including the content of your sessions, your records, scheduling of or attendance at
appointments, and progress in counseling to remain confidential. No record of counseling
is contained in any academic, educational or job placement file. You have a right to
privacy, and we will guard that right as much as permitted by the law and ethical standards.
However, there are a few exceptions to confidentiality. Under the following conditions,
laws and ethical guidelines may require us to release confidential information without
your consent: (1) when there is imminent (immediate) danger to yourself or others; (2)
when we learn that a child, disabled adult, or elderly adult has been abused or neglected;
(3) when we are ordered to release information to a court of law; and (4) in some cases
(but not all), if you are a minor (under 18), your parents or legal guardian must give
consent and may access your records. We hope that you understand that in cases of imminent
danger or child endangerment, the law and professional ethics set the protection of life
and safety as the highest priority.
