Confidentiality Statement

As a client of the Wellness Center, your right to privacy will be safeguarded to the maximum extent provided by law. The confidentiality of information that you share with your counselor, even that you are a client of the Center, is protected by Federal and State law and regulations, College policy, and the Professional Codes of Ethics to which the staff subscribe. Such personal information will not ordinarily be disclosed to any third party without your express, written, informed consent, stipulating what information may be divulged to whom, for what purposes, and within what time period. The prohibition against unauthorized release of confidential information applies to persons who may have referred you to the Center, as well as parents, spouse/domestic partners, and other relatives.

You should be aware, however, that there are limits to your right to confidentiality; the staff is legally and ethically bound to breach confidentiality and notify appropriate authorities under certain circumstances. The exceptions to confidentiality include:

1. If there are, in the staff member’s professional judgment, indications that pose an imminent risk of harm to yourself. Under these circumstances, it may be necessary for the staff to take whatever action is necessary for your safety, including notifying appropriate college officials.

2. If you disclose an intent to harm another person; in such circumstances, the staff member is required not only to notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies, but also the intended target of the threat.

3. If you disclose child or elder abuse or neglect, even if you are not directly involved, the staff member is bound to report the situation to the appropriate agencies for investigation.

4. The Center is required release information as stipulated in a valid court order.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding confidentiality, please discuss them with the staff of the Wellness Center.