Counseling & School Psychology Clinic

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is assured to all individuals. Since the lab is a training facility, all counseling and supervision sessions are video taped to be used as training tools. In using the Lab, clients or appropriate guardians must grant permission for the sessions to be videotaped. The tapes are viewed by students and their supervisors and in practicum or internship classes to review student progress. All video tapes are kept at the Lab in a locked room and do not leave the building, except to be taken to practicum or internship class meetings. Tapes are erased at the end of each semester unless counseling is continuing the following semester. If counseling sessions continue past one semester, tapes are erased when counseling services are terminated.

Exceptions

All information obtained from clients (including tapes) are treated with the strictest confidence. No information will be transferred to any individual or agency without the prior written approval except for the following situations:

1. If there is reason to believe that a client will harm herself/himself or others;
2. If there is reasonable suspicion of child or elder abuse or neglect;
3. If a court of law mandates the release of records or a clinician's verbal testimony;
4. In a case of a medical emergency in the Lab, when transport of a client to a medical facility must be arranged, others would likely become aware that the client is receiving services at the Lab.