Confidentiality
Confidentiality
The Code of Ethics for Psychologists, federal laws, and state laws protect your confidentiality, meaning that no record of your attendance or participation in counseling or assessment services is released without your written permission.
In a very small number of cases, counselors are legally required to break confidentiality. These are cases such as:
- Serious threat to health or safety,
- Child abuse,
- Elder abuse,
- Health oversight,
- Judicial or administrative proceedings, or
- Worker’s compensation.
In most legal proceedings, you have the right to prevent your counselor from providing any information about your treatment. In some proceedings involving child custody and those in which your emotional condition is an important issue, a judge may order your counselor’s testimony if he/she determines that the issues demand it.
These situations are very rare, but in the event that this does occur, your counselor will make every effort to discuss it with you before taking any action.
How We Protect Your Information
At the CAC, we are committed to maintaining your privacy. For this reason:
- All paper records are kept under lock and key.
- Computer records are kept on a secure server.
Records will only be available to administrative professionals (supervisors, service coordinators, training directors) and your student clinician(s). All staff at the CAC are bound to and trained under the confidentiality guidelines of the ethics code from the American Psychological Association.
The CAC uses a team-based approach to your treatment, meaning your case will be routinely discussed with anyone involved in your treatment at the CAC. At times your case may be discussed with other student clinicians for training purposes. In these situations, student clinicians avoid to use any identifying information when discussing cases. In situations when there may be a conflict of interest, measures are taken to insure confidentiality and protection of your information
How to File a Complaint
Anyone who believes a professional licensed by the Board has violated either the Psychologists’ Licensing Act (Chapter 501 of the Texas Occupations Code) or the rules of the Board may file a complaint with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Complaints must be submitted to the Board’s office on a Board approved complaint form.