Client Responsibility

You have responsibility to:

• Maintain your own personal health and safety.
• Take an active role in the counseling process, including honestly sharing your thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
• Help plan and follow through with your therapeutic goals.
• Provide accurate information regarding past and present physical and psychological problems (including hospitalizations, medications, and/or prior treatment).
• Provide notice of your desire to terminate the counseling relationship before entering into a counseling relationship with another provider.
• Keep scheduled appointments (contact your counselor in advance to cancel and/or reschedule appointments).
• Inform your counselor if, during the course of treatment, you become aware of any conflicts of interest with another patient or College Counselor; and
• Promptly notify your counselor of any problems or concerns that render you unable to participate in counseling.

Confidentiality

Professional counselors recognize that confidentiality is essential to an effective counseling relationship. With a few exceptions (noted below), everything you share throughout your counseling treatment, including your identity, is confidential.

Exceptions to patient confidentiality include, but are not limited to:

• Danger to self or others.If your counselor believes you intend to harm yourself or someone else, your counselor is bound by laws and ethics to take steps to prevent that harm from occurring.
• If you are a minor (under age 19), your parents or legal guardian(s) have access to your records and discretion over them.
• If you disclose abuse or neglect of a child, an elderly person, or anyone who is similarly defenseless, your counselor is required by law to report the abuse.
• If you are in a group counseling setting, your counselor must still maintain confidentiality of the group. However, your counselor cannot guarantee that group members will also maintain confidentiality.
• If a third party issues a lawful subpoena for your records, your counselor may be legally obligated to disclose your records. Your counselor will ensure you are notified of any subpoena and, as required by law, take steps to ensure the records are produced subject to a protective order.
• If your counselor is required by law to disclose your records, your counselor may disclose information necessary to comply with such law.