Confidentiality

Counseling is confidential in accordance with state laws and ethical guidelines. Communication between a counselor and a client is released only in cases of immediate danger of serious harm to the student or someone else, or when the student signs a written permission form. 

Counseling records are maintained in files separate from the student's academic files and cannot be accessed by faculty, staff, administrators, parents or other students without the student's written permission. Students are encouraged to address any questions or concerns about confidentiality with a counselor during their first appointment.

An example of a typical effort to maintain a client's confidentiality arises when a professor calls Counseling Services due to his/her concern about a student.  The professor may ask if the student is receiving counseling or if the student followed up on their referral.  We would explain to the professor that we cannot divulge if the student is or is not a client at Counseling Services.  We would then ask if the professor would like to tell us about his/her concerns so we could offer suggestions on how to help the student.