EIU Counseling Clinic

Confidentiality:  How Your Privacy Is Protected

Counseling is confidential. We will use and protect your information in compliance with the Family Education  Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Illinois Mental Health and Development Disabilities Code, and the Illinois  Mental Health and Development Disabilities Confidentiality Act.

Counseling records are kept separate from academic, disciplinary, and medical records to ensure your privacy and confidentiality. The Counseling Clinic uses an electronic record-keeping system that is maintained on a secure server. All Counseling Clinic staff, Executive Director of Health and Counseling, and computer support technicians have access to the electronic health record server. Further, all Counseling Clinic staff and computer support technicians sign a binding confidentiality agreement that prohibits the unauthorized release of client information. To further protect your confidentiality, Counseling Clinic staff members do not acknowledge that they are familiar with clients while outside the Clinic, unless the client acknowledges the staff member first

Information obtained during counseling sessions will not be disclosed to anyone outside the Clinic without your knowledge and written consent. The exception to this is for professional supervision when only non-identifiable information is disclosed. 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.

The only exceptions to these confidentiality rules are rare instances where psychologists and counselors are required to reveal particular information by federal, state, or local laws. Such exceptions include when:

• We believe that a client presents with a serious and foreseeable harm and/or imminent danger to herself/himself or another person unless protective measures are taken. This may include notifying family members or other emergency contact, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalization for the client. If any of these situations occur, every effort will be made by your therapist to fully discuss the situation with you before taking any action.
• We have reasonable cause to believe that a child is being abused or neglected or a vulnerable elderly individual is being subject to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.
• We receive a valid court order signed by a judge.
• We need to seek advice from Eastern Illinois University Legal Counsel.
• Information may be shared with Eastern Illinois University Student Support Team or Threat Assessment team, when there is information that involves a threat of harm to self or others. Only relevant and pertinent information should be shared.

Confidentiality: Clients Under 18 Years of Age

A minor is defined as a person under the age of 18. In Illinois, minors aged 12 and over, may consent to outpatient counseling, without parental consent. They are limited to eight sessions. Minors can access more than eight sessions if the provider believes it is in the client’s best interest to continue or that parental involvement would be detrimental to the minor’s well-being. Providers may not notify the parents with the client’s permission. However, a parent or guardian can obtain psychological records of minors aged 12 and over if the provider does not find compelling reasons for denying access.