Confidentiality & Patients Rights

Ethical behavior and strict adherence to confidentiality are pillars of mental health services and are taken very seriously. Our ethics & confidentiality policy follows the ethical and legal requirements of the State of West Virginia. 

The Counseling Center staff is committed to maintaining your privacy and the confidentiality of all student mental health information. Be assured that your conversations with our clinicians are privileged, and will remain private (except under very few circumstances that are outlined in the Informed Consent Form signed prior to your first treatment meeting). Any information you share will not be released without your written consent, unless required by law or other special circumstances, which are outlined in the Consent for Treatment.  

While we keep clinical records when we meet with students, they are not a part of your educational record and therefore have additional protections under the law.  If you have any questions about this policy, please raise them with your counselor immediately.

Records are maintained and kept secure in the Counseling Center’s Electronic Medical Records system and will destroyed/permanently deleted after seven years.

Staff working in the Office of Counseling & Disability Services is exempt from Title IX reporting requirements.

• Students are treated with respect, consideration, and dignity. They have a right to competent, humane treatment with appropriate respect for their opinions and beliefs in the process of receiving health care.
• Students are provided, to the degree known, information concerning their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Student records and disclosures are treated confidentially. Students have the authority to approve or refuse their release in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.
• Students are encouraged to participate in decisions involving their health care.
• Students are responsible to give the provider and staff complete and full information on their health status and to comply with treatment and follow-up.
• Responsibilities include asking questions, making use of available information and educational resources concerning their health, and showing the same respect for the health service staff that they expect to receive

Student disclosures and records are treated confidentially.

Students are given the authority to approve or refuse their release in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

If a student wishes to have medical records shared, the only records we can share are those in which the patient was specificially seen at the university clinic.

Medical records will be retained for seven years after the last date of service.