COUNSELING CENTER

Confidentiality

Counseling and personal help often deals with very personal and highly private issues. Successful outcome depends on a feeling of freedom on the client's part to express feelings, attitudes and thoughts with people who respect them and their right to privacy.

The importance of confidentiality is reflected in the Counseling Center's adherence to the Code of Ethics of the American Psychological Association and the American Association for Counseling and Development. (link to Regulations)

The Towson University Counseling Center strictly protects the confidentiality of information shared during sessions. We are ethically committed to confidentiality and federal/state laws require it. This means that even your attendance in counseling is kept private and confidential.

State and Federal law states that there are four exceptions to this general rule: (a) you may request (by means of a signed release) that your counselor reveal information to other individuals or agencies of your choice; (b) in instances where there is imminent danger of serious harm to yourself or others; (c) in cases involving physical and/or sexual abuse of children or endangered adults; and (d) where otherwise requested by subpoena or mandated by court order or state/federal law.