Confidentiality

Therapy, counseling and personal help often deals with very personal and highly private issues. Successful outcome depends on a feeling of freedom on the client's part to express feelings, attitudes and thoughts with people who respect them and their right to privacy.

The staff of Coppin State University Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) respects and protects the individual student's right to privacy and believes that a commitment to confidentiality is essential to effective, successful counseling.

Information which is obtained in the context of a counseling relationship may be released to other individuals and agencies only with the student's written permission as required by law.

The Coppin State University Center for Counseling and Student Development strictly protects the confidentiality of information shared during sessions. We are ethically committed to confidentiality and federal/state laws require it. This means that even your attendance in counseling is kept private and confidential. Also, your psychological/counseling medical records are entirely maintained and housed separately from your academic record in strict locked facility at all times.

State and Federal law states that there are four exceptions to this general rule:

• You may request (by means of a signed release) that your therapist/counselor reveal information to other individuals or agencies of your choice;
• In instances where there is imminent danger of serious harm to yourself or others;
• In cases involving physical and/or sexual abuse of children or endangered adults; and where
• Otherwise requested by subpoena or mandated by court order or state/federal law.