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Confidentiality

Confidentiality
With certain very limited exceptions, the fact that you come to counseling and the content of your therapy sessions are kept in the strictest of confidence. All University Counseling records are kept locked and separate from Student Health Center or other student records. No one, including the student's parents or Washington and Lee administration or faculty, can be informed about a students counseling without the consent and direction from a student.

One exception to confidentiality is when a student might present an imminent risk of harm to him or herself or others. The primary duty of a Counselor in such situations is to protect the student or others who might be in danger, and sometimes this requires careful disclosure of information essential to prevent harm from occurring. The other exception occurs if a student discloses that a child or elderly person has been abused or neglected, which the law mandates must be reported.