Confidentiality
What you need to know
Counseling records are kept separate from academic, disciplinary, and medical records to ensure your privacy and confidentiality. Counseling records are maintained in a secure environment and accessible only to Counseling Center staff. To further protect your confidentiality, Counseling Center staff members do not acknowledge that they are familiar with clients while outside the Center, unless the client acknowledges the staff member first.
Information obtained during counseling sessions will not be disclosed to anyone outside the Center without your knowledge and written consent. If you sign a written authorization allowing us to disclose information, you can later cancel your authorization in writing, and we will not disclose any further information after we receive your cancellation.
Exceptions to Confidentiality
The only exceptions to these strict confidentiality rules are rare instances where USA UCWC staff are required to reveal particular information by federal, state, or local laws. Such exceptions include when:
We believe that there is a substantial likelihood that you will cause serious physical
harm to yourself or another person unless protective measures are taken.
We have reasonable cause to believe that a child is being abused or neglected or an
aged or incapacitated adult is being subject to abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Social Networking and Confidentiality
USA UCWC staff will not accept friend or contact requests on social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) from clients or students with whom they have professional relationships (including trainees and student employees). This policy exists to minimize the potential for online relationships that could compromise client confidentiality and the respective privacy of both clients and staff.