Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an essential part of the counseling relationship.
All aspects of your participation as a client of the Counseling Center,
including the fact that you have scheduled an appointment, the content
of your counseling sessions, and your client record are considered
privileged information that is protected by federal and state law. Our
records in the Counseling Center are entirely separate from your
academic or any other administrative records at Furman. Counseling
records cannot be disclosed to faculty, administrators, or any
non-Counseling Center staff without the client’s written permission.
Limits of confidentiality
In most cases, your written and signed authorization is required before
information concerning your counseling can be disclosed to individuals
outside of the Counseling Center. However, the law dictates certain
exceptions to the requirement of signed authorization before release of
information. Some of these exceptions are listed below:
- If
a Counseling Center professional staff person believes that you are
likely to harm yourself or another person, he or she may be required to
take action to protect you or others by contacting Furman Student Life
senior administration, parents, medical professionals or law enforcement
officers.
- If
a Counseling Center professional staff person learns that a child or an
elderly or disabled person has been or may be subjected to abuse or
neglect, the clinician may be required to report this abuse to the
appropriate state agency.
- In
rare instances involving court cases, a court may order the release of
confidential information considered pertinent to the proceedings.
- If you are a minor (under the age of 18), your parents or legal guardians may have rights to counseling records.
If you have any questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to speak with a Counseling Center clinician.