Client and Therapist Assurances
Thank you for taking the time to read these guidelines. If you have any questions about this information, please feel free to ask them of the clinical staff. We feel that this information will make your contact with us more productive and satisfying. Students or those who have comments about Center policies or procedures are encouraged to call or write to the Interim Director, Deidre Markum, Ph.D.
Confidentiality
- Information obtained during counseling or in written form through testing will not be disclosed to anyone without written permission.
- Telephone messages left for you will not mention the RCC and will be left in the first name of the caller. If you prefer that messages be handled in a different way, please discuss this with your counselor.
- Since the staff of the Rice Counseling Center cannot guarantee the privacy of e-mail communications, we do not use email for clinical purposes and ask students to do the same. This includes setting, canceling or changing appointments.
- By State law, limitations of confidentiality include:
Risk of imminent harm to the student or others
The clinician has reason to believe that a child, elderly or handicapped person is in danger of or is being abused or neglected
When the counselor has been served with a court-order to release information
During a criminal lawsuit in which the student is involved
There is reason to suspect that the student has been the victim of sexual exploitation by a former mental health provider during the course of treatment.
Respect
The therapist can be expected to respect you as a human being and convey this respect by:
- Keeping appointments or attempting to contact you if a change in time is necessary
- Giving you his or her complete attention during sessions by avoiding unnecessary interruptions
- Providing the most effective assistance he or she can
Negotiation
- Discuss any questions, suggestions made by a therapist, or approach used with the therapist
- If you feel that these suggestions are not appropriate you may refuse to accept them.
Evaluation
- Clients are encouraged to discuss their progress and review their goals with the therapist
- Clients will be given treatment evaluations to complete anonymously
- Clients who feel they are not making progress may decide to terminate or be referred to another therapist or agency
- Concerns about any RCC staff should be directed to the Interim Director, Dr. Deidre Markum, of the Center