Confidentiality & Other Policies
Confidentiality
As an essential aspect of our efforts to provide an environment where students are free to seek help, the center maintains the strictest standards of privacy and confidentiality.
- In adherence with ethical standards of the American Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Association of Social Work, counseling records are kept separate from all academic, administrative, disciplinary, and medical records.
- No information about a student's contact with the center is released without the knowledge and written consent of the student, except in legally approved cases.
- All information disclosed within sessions is confidential and may not be revealed to anyone outside the WSSU Counseling Center without the written permission of the client, except where reporting is required by law.
- Disclosure of information is required in circumstances where there is reasonable suspicion of abuse of children or elderly persons; where the client is likely to harm herself or himself unless protective measures are taken; or where the client presents a clear and serious danger of violence to another person.
- In some instances, disclosure of relevant information may be required by court order during a legal proceeding in which the client becomes involved.
- All counseling services are confidential to the limits provided by law, and no information can be released to anyone within or outside of the university without a client’s written consent.
Information share by you in assessment and counseling session will be treated with strictest confidentiality and in most instances will not be disclosed to anyone without your written permission. A copy of your release of information form is available from the Counseling Center staff.
Some situations where you may be asked to provide written advanced consent include:
- Training of Graduate Students. Our staff and psychologist will occasionally train graduate students from the mental health profession who are not yet licensed in North Carolina. Licensed counselors provide supervision, which may include discussion of your treatment and clinical record.
- Recording Sessions for Excellence and Quality Assurance. Because of our desire for excellence and quality assurance, your counselor may ask you permission to record sessions for confidential supervisory and training purposes. Audiotapes and video are digitized, encrypted and erased at the end of you treatment.
- Consulting with Other Counseling and Health Services Staff. Your counselor may occasionally seek consultation with other Counseling and Health Services staff members for such purposes as schedule and quality assurance.
Your counselor will keep confidential anything that you say to him/her with the following exceptions:
- You direct your counselor to tell someone else
- Your counselor determines that you are a danger to yourself and others
- Your counselor is ordered by a court to disclose information
- Your counselor suspects that there is child and/or elder abuse
- Your counselor is working collaboratively with other professionals where disclosure of personal information is necessary to provide optimal care
- You are a minor for whom confidentiality is limited to the extent exercised by you parent/legal guardian
When doing couples and family counseling, your counselor should not be asked to withhold specific information from other members of the family/system as it is difficult to guarantee adherence to the request.
The Counseling Center staff members acknowledge that all people are cultural beings and that prejudice and discrimination hurt people and communities.
As such, Counseling Center staff members do not discriminate against clients on the basis of:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Marital Status
- National Origin
- Ancestry
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
- Physical or Mental Disability
- Medical Condition
- Status as a Veteran or Disabled Veteran
- Age
- Citizenship
- You can schedule your appointment by calling the Counseling Center at 336-750-3270 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Individual and couples therapy appointments are generally for 45-50 minutes and are typically scheduled every other week at a time you and your counseling agree upon.
- Rescheduling your appointment:
- If you cannot make a scheduled appointment, it is your responsibility to call 336-750-3270 as soon as possible to reschedule.
- If you miss your appointment and do not reschedule, your standing appointment will not be held for you there is no guarantee you counseling will have another available appointment time if this occurs.
The laws and standards of our profession require that we keep Protected Health Information about you in your clinical record. Your clinical record may include information such as:
- Your reasons for seeking counseling
- A description of the way in which your concerns affects your life
- Your diagnosis (if applicable)
- Goals for treatment
- Your progress toward those goals
- Your medical and social history
- Your treatment history
- Results of clinical assessments (including raw data)
- Any past treatment records and copies of any reports that have been received or sent to anyone.
- Personal information that you share with your counselor may be entered into you clinical record in written form. However, efforts are generally made to avoid entry of information that may be especially sensitive or embarrassing.
- Your clinical records are not part of academic records and clinical record are maintained for seven years.
- In accordance with our mission, if we determine that your treatment needs or requires resources or competencies beyond the scope of our expertise, we will assist with a referral to an appropriate mental health provider.
- Students presenting such conditions will be referred to appropriate resources in the community at the discretion of your counselor.
- Students are responsible for paying the costs incurring for services and treatment provided through outside agencies.
- We encourage interoffice referrals as well, should a student benefit from working with another provider on staff.
- Alcohol and Drugs: We do not intervene with students who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Individuals who are under the influence may need medical attention or to be kept safe in a hospital or other secure environment. Therefore, a psychological intervention would serve little purpose.
- Medical Illnesses: If you are experiencing symptoms of a compromised immune system, such as a flu or a cold, please call and allow us to reschedule you appointment.
- Beyond Capacity for Us to Treat Effectively: Counseling Services reserves the right to deny further services to individuals whose concerns are beyond the capacity of this office to treat effectively.
- Abuses or Misuses Services: People who abuse or misuse our services in any manner—such as frequently missing appointments, may be denied future services. If this should become necessary, other local treatment options and possible referrals would be discussed.
