Each individual is entitled to privacy in his/her work with a counselor. All of your contacts with your counselor are confidential to the Counseling Services professional staff. Written permission is required for Counseling Services to release information to others outside the Counseling Services. A court order may require an exception to the lawful protection of individual legal rights to privileged communication with a counselor or psychiatrist.
If it becomes clear in the counseling session that there is a real danger to oneself or to others, we are required to take action. Also, reports of abuse of children or others unable to care for themselves will also require some action to be taken. Confidentiality laws do not apply in these cases.
A record is kept of an individual's work with us. It contains information individuals have provided to us in writing as well as counseling notes of individual sessions. The record remains in Counseling Services for a period of seven years following an individual's last visit. After this time, the entire file is destroyed. Counseling Services files never become a part of the permanent SIUe educational record.
Additional records of sessions are sometimes taken such as the counselor's personal notes and audio tapes. These are destroyed in a timely manner and do not become part of an individual's counseling record. SIUE Counseling Services is a training site for master's and doctoral level therapists in training. These trainees are required to video record their sessions for quality control and training purposes ONLY. These recordings are destroyed in a timely manner and never become a part of the individuals counseling record.
If you have questions about confidentiality and your privacy, please talk with a counselor.
After a counselor has established an ongoing therapeutic relationship with a student and has thoroughly assessed his or her situation, the counselor will decide whether medication may be an appropriate treatment option. Counseling Services has a part-time psychiatrist on staff to address the medication needs of current clients. The psychiatrist provides services only to eligible clients referred by a counselor at Counseling Services. Students who want medication are not eligible to see the psychiatrist at Counseling Services unless they are ongoing clients at Counseling Services. If a client discontinues counseling, he or she will no longer be eligible for psychiatric care at Counseling Services.
If you are submitting a Cancellation of Single Student Housing Contract request and indicating Counseling Considerations as your reason, please note the following guidelines. These guidelines will be used when reviewing the cancellation request.
•The process of verifying and reviewing a Counseling Considerations Cancellation Request can take two weeks or more before a decision is made and the student is informed of the decision.
•The student is strongly encouraged to sign a Release form with his/her Medical/Mental Health Professional. This will allow University Housing to verify the submitted information.
• If the student is currently seeing a Medical/Mental Health Professional (private or University), the student will need to provide documentation from the Medical/Mental Health Professional, on the professional’s stationary (prescription pad notes will not be accepted), detailing:
•If the student is not currently seeing a Medical/Mental Health Professional, the student will need to do the following:
• At SIUE Counseling Services, the student’s issue must be clinically significant and be directly related to the Housing situation. Merely having a psychological disorder does not indicate that the Medical/Mental Health Professional will recommend that a Housing contract be cancelled. Therefore, a recommendation will not be made merely to assist a student in canceling their Housing contract. Each request will be reviewed by the entire clinical team before a recommendation can be made. Ultimately, the final decision will be made by University Housing.
• Once a decision has been made, all disputes of the cancellation decision will handled by University Housing at 618-650-3931 and not SIUe Counseling Services.
I. All communication between a client and a counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist is confidential and will not, except under the circumstances explained below, be disclosed to anyone outside of Counseling Services unless written authorization to release information is given. A Release of Information Form will need to be signed to have a Counseling Services professional staff communicate information to anyone. A record is kept of a client’s work with us. It contains information a client has provided to Counseling Services in writing as well as counseling notes from client sessions. The record remains in Counseling Services for a period of seven years following the client’s last visit; at that time, it is destroyed. A client’s record never leaves the Counseling Center and never becomes a part of the educational record.
II. Most limits to confidentiality are to ensure safety. If there is evidence of imminent danger of harm to the client or other(s), we must take action. If a client describes abuse of a child or elder, the information will be reported to the appropriate agency. It is possible a court order may require release of privileged communication.
III. Counseling information cannot be released to the following without the client’s consent:
Procedure:
I. A client may review his counseling record in the confines of the Counseling Services office with a counselor and only by appointment.
II. A client wishing to grant release of information to another party must complete the Release of Information form.
III. The standard charge for copies is $1.00 per page. This includes records released to an individual, a legal firm, or an insurance company. There is no charge if records are released directly to another physician or health care facility, or another entity of SIUE.
IV. A summary of a client’s counseling record may be prepared by a client’s Counseling Services therapist for $20.00. A summary is a written document created by a therapist based on the contents of the chart describing the counseling episode.
V. Records may be faxed or mailed. A cover sheet or letter must be affixed to accompany all documents.
VI. The legal counsel of SIUE may wish to review cases involving probable legal action before the information is released. In a legal case, the whole chart is copied at the written request of the legal counsel. Counseling Services will not release any medical information obtained from another clinic, hospital, or private physician if marked “not for secondary disclosure”.
VII. Counseling Services will not release records pertaining to alcohol/drug use, mental health, HIV/AIDS, abortion, and sexual assault unless the written consent is signed.
VIII. In cases of immediate transfer by ambulance or police of a client to any emergency facility or hospital, appropriate information can be sent with the client, including photocopies of clinical notes and identification information. This material should be provided for continuity of care.
Also in these cases, all attempts will be made to contact the emergency contact person(s) supplied by the client on his/her Client Intake Questionnaire form or at the client’s verbal request to contact such persons as so designated.
IX. Pages of the chart with the stamp “re-disclosure is prohibited” may accompany records released by the records technician. The recipient of the information is then prohibited from using the information for other than the stated purpose and will prevent disclosure to a third party.
X. Fees may be waived by permission of the Director of Counseling Services.
A. Student complaints are handled largely through the existing chain of command. Given the existing laws regarding confidentiality and psychological/health services, a therapist/health service provider is restricted in terms of what he or she can disclose. If a student has a complaint about an employee or consultant of Counseling Services or Health Service, he or she is directed to speak with that employee’s director, or if necessary, the immediate supervisor of the employee. The complaint should initially be lodged informally by speaking with someone in the department. However, the complaint can be lodged more formally in writing first to the Director within five (5) working days of the incident. The written complaint or grievance should include a description of the incident, date, time, and persons involved in the complaint.
B. The director shall then respond to the grievance in writing within five (5) working days of the date that the grievance was signed and filed. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of that discussion or response, he or she is directed to the next higher level of administration. In each case, careful consideration is given to the emotional stress the student may already be in as well as any complications arising from a possible mental or physical illness. If a complaint comes from a non-student, it is handled administratively first by the director, then by the Associate Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs, and finally, if necessary, the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs. The Director reserves the right to consult with the General Counsel of the University around issues or complaints that may have legal implications. Documentation of a student complaint would become part of the confidential record.
C. If the student is not satisfied with his or her current therapist or health care provider, he or she can select another therapist within the department at no charge or accept a referral to another provider outside the university. Any costs incurred by the student seeking these services outside of the university are not covered by the university.
D. Any complaints, if found to have merit, will be used in the supervision of the employee involved to improve the person’s skills and function. If the complaint is significant, the student may take legal action as prescribed by current statutes. Each week the clinical staff meets in a case conference to discuss problematic cases to insure quality of service to the student.
This information is being provided to all SIUe students and employees as mandated by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989. Information concerning applicable legal sanctions under state, local, and federal laws for the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol, health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol, and alcohol and drug prevention and treatment resources is provided.
For students, the “Student Conduct Code” publication defines social misconduct to include: violations of University policies and regulations, local ordinances, and state and federal laws which include, without limitation, the manufacture, sale, or distribution, and/or unauthorized possession and use of controlled substances or alcohol. Violation of the above regulations will result in sanctions up to and including permanent separation from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Employees are also expected to comply with all applicable laws.
Serious health risks are associated with the abuse of alcohol and the use of illicit drugs. There is a risk of overdose with all drugs. Overdose can cause coma, convulsions, psychosis, or death. Long term use of drugs can lead to organ damage, malnutrition, and mental problems. Certain combinations of drugs, such as alcohol and barbiturates, can be lethal. Long term heavy alcohol use and binge drinking may result in respiratory arrest and death. Liver disease, heart disease, circulatory problems, peptic ulcers, some forms of cancer, and irreversible brain damage may increase with long term heavy drinking of alcohol.
Students may obtain information and referral services from SIUE Counseling Services at 618-650-2197. Employees can obtain information and referral services from Magellan Behavior Health at 1-866-659-3848 or: http://www.magellanhealth.com. For further information please see these websites for the official adopted policies of the University:
http://www.siue.edu/policies/6c1.shtml
http://www.siue.edu/policies/6c2.shtml
http://www.siue.edu/policies/6c3.shtml
Counseling Services is able to to offer consultation to faculty and staff pertaining to problem resolution and goal-setting in the interest of the education of SIUE students. However, Counseling Services, in accordance to code 1.17 of the American Psychological Association's code of ethics, is not able to offer it's services for personal use amongst SIUE faculty and staff because of the conflicting relations that can quickly arise. However, in the event that a faculty or staff member requests personal counseling services, a referral to Magellan Health Services or another mental health professional will be provided.