Psychological Counseling Center, CSU, Chico

Client Confidentiality Policy

Your contact with the center is confidential, except in certain situations which are discussed below. We are not allowed to discuss your counseling, even the fact that you have sought counseling, with anyone outside this office—unless you give us written permission to do so. Information regarding your case will be contained in a confidential file which is kept in a locked cabinet. Only your counselor accesses all the information in this file, unless other counselors have a need to know (e.g., they need to see you on an emergency basis when your counselor is not available). Clerical staff only access the standardized forms that you sign upon seeking services.

There are exceptions to these rules of confidentiality, (e.g., in certain life and death emergencies, or by court order). If your counselor seriously believes that you intend to harm yourself or others, or suspects child abuse/neglect or dependent adult abuse/neglect on your part, the counselor is legally and ethically bound to report this to the appropriate people. Further, if you are a survivor of child abuse, and the abuser has current access to children, your counselor is legally and ethically bound to make a report if there is a reasonable suspicion of current child abuse.

With your permission, your session(s) may be audio or video taped.