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The �鶹��Ƶ Counseling Center provides a safe and inclusive environment which fosters the wellbeing, resiliency, and holistic development of all students. We do this through a Comprehensive Care Model that includes individual, conjoint and group treatment modalities, psychoeducational opportunities, collaboration, and outreach work across campus.

The �鶹��Ƶ Counseling Center is committed to fostering a community which strives to recognize and value the inherent worth and dignity of every person; promotes acceptance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to reach their own potential. We believe the diversity among the many members of �鶹��Ƶ strengthens the institution, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life.

The Counseling Center Staff is committed to engaging in regular, ongoing self-reflection and continuing education regarding systemic inequity and anti-racism efforts. We will use this knowledge to inform our services and programming, to meet students in their many intersecting identities, and in fostering specific considerations for historically underrepresented and marginalized groups. 

We have taken steps to ensure that our email platform is secure and utilizes end-to-end encryption, we cannot guarantee the security of email content once it has been delivered to the recipient's inbox (e.g., if the recipient accessed their email on a shared device and forgot to log out, another user may be able to see their emails). 

• Therefore, confidentiality through email cannot be ensured.
• We use discretion when sending information that is sensitive in nature and ask our clients to do the same.
• Also, please note that the staff does not maintain 24-hour access to e-mail accounts.

Physical client records are routinely secured in locked files, accessed only by authorized personnel. Electronic files are kept secure using an electronic health record keeping system that no parties (on or off campus) have access to. Records are deleted eight years following the last client contact. Clients have the right to inspect and receive copies of their records, however, access to these records by the person receiving counseling may be restricted by the treating mental health professional during the course of treatment. Records are reviewed in the presence of the staff member who developed the records and/or the Director.

For training and supervision, some clients may be asked for permission to observe and /or record the counseling session. Such observations and recordings will only be conducted after the client has been fully informed and has freely provided written consent. Any recordings well be erased or deleted after review by the supervisor.

Individual client information may be released outside of the Counseling Center under the following circumstances

With Informed Consent

A client may request that specific information be sent to another individual. Prior to a disclosure, the client must sign a “Consent for Release of Information”. Information is not released for reasons unrelated to treatment.

Without informed Consent

Client information may be released without consent in the following situations

• When there is a clear and imminent danger of harm to the client or another person. In these circumstances, we are legally required to take action to protect life. Thus, our actions in these circumstances may include arranging for voluntary or involuntary hospitalization, as well as notifying law enforcement authorities and/or family/friends/individuals at risk.
• In the case of suspected or confirmed abuse of children or vulnerable adults. In this circumstance, we are legally required to report the abuse to Child Protective Services or other appropriate county and/or state authorities.
• In the event the client is pregnant and a counselor has reason to believe the client is using a controlled substance (i.e., a drug) for non-medicinal purposes. State law requires that this be reported to the local welfare agency or to other appropriate county and/or state authorities.
• In the event of a court order for information.
• In the event of an emergency.
• When a situation otherwise must be reported by law.
• Minnesota law requires licensed healthcare professionals to report possible misconduct by other licensed healthcare professionals to the appropriate board, if that professional is identified by name. If the client has had such an experience and wishes to discuss it with their counselor here and still maintain control about whether or not the client wishes to make such a report, the client should not reveal the healthcare provider’s name.
• Minnesota law states that the parents and spouse of a deceased patient have a right of access to their deceased child’s or spouse’s healthcare records.

Students must be currently enrolled during any semester in which they receive services. Individuals who have withdrawn completely from the semester are not considered to be currently enrolled. Due to high demand and limited college resources, the Counseling Center does not meet with staff or faculty members for personal therapy. We will meet with any individual on campus for consultation and resource suggestions.

We can help most students, but we are not a full-service mental health clinic.

Some examples of clinical issues that will likely be addressed through a community referral include, but are not limited to:

• Individuals with chronic mental health conditions that require longer-term, ongoing care.
• Clinical presentations, such as some personality disorders, that indicate short-term therapy may be ineffective and/or detrimental.
• A need or desire to be seen more frequently than we can accommodate. Most of our clients are seen 1-4 times per month.
  • Excessive utilization of crisis intervention services indicates that standard session frequency is inadequate
• Chronic suicidality and/or recent history of multiple suicide attempts.
• Severe and chronic self-injury.
• A history of multiple psychiatric hospitalizations.
• Issues that require more specialized care than can be provided at �鶹��Ƶ, including:
  • Significant or chronic disordered eating symptoms posing a medical danger
  • Significant or chronic substance use/abuse which compromises therapy
• Active symptoms of psychosis at risk for progressive deterioration

Sometimes a referral is the best option.

In addition to the clinical reasons indicated above, some other reasons why we may need to deny services and/or refer individuals to community resources include but are not limited to:

• Lack of motivation or engagement in treatment as evidenced by:
  • Unwillingness to provide information sufficient for clinical assessment
  • Inability to identify a treatment goal appropriate for brief therapy
  • Inconsistent attendance
  • Poor compliance with treatment recommendations
  • Failure to follow through with recommended treatment in the context of multiple crisis intervention sessions
• Ongoing treatment relationship with another mental health provider
• Inappropriate, harassing, menacing, threatening, or violent behaviors
• Mandated or required treatment, including but not limited to:
  • Counseling ordered through legal proceedings, such as substance abuse treatment, alcohol education, anger management, parenting education, or domestic violence treatment
  • Counseling required by employers, government agencies, academic departments, or classes
• Comprehensive psychological evaluations not available at �鶹��Ƶ including:
  • Neuropsychological evaluations
  • Forensic assessments
  • Custody evaluation
  • Assessment and documentation for service or support animals
  • State/Federal benefit programs, including vocational rehabilitation and social security/disability
  • Fitness-for-duty evaluations
  • Pre-surgical mental health evaluations
• Medication-management-only treatment plans, including following termination of short-term psychotherapy (please refer to �鶹��Ƶ Health Service)

During the intake appointment or during any subsequent stage of treatment, a clinician may determine that a client’s needs appear to fall outside our scope of practice. In such instances, the clinician is encouraged to consult with colleagues and/or the Director regarding case disposition. If the clinician is a trainee, the supervisor must be consulted. 

When community referral is the most appropriate treatment option for a client, he/she should be provided with approximately three referral options. These options should, to the best of the clinician’s ability, address client circumstances regarding insurance, finances, and transportation. 

Clinicians are not case managers, and are not responsible for ensuring that clients follow up on referrals provided. Such contacts are encouraged, however, in cases with moderate or higher level of risk or instability. 

Occasionally, a clinician may be able to provide services that extend beyond our scope of practice. Circumstances which may warrant such services include but are not limited to:

• Appropriate management of a crisis
• Coverage through upcoming graduation within the semester
• Completion of treatment for clients making good progress, but needing limited extension of services
• Supporting high-functioning clients with chronic conditions on well-defined short-term therapy goals
• Longer-term therapy for committed and progressing clients comprising 5% or less of any clinician’s caseload, for training and diversity

The Counseling Center is committed to maintaining an appropriate balance between meeting the needs of individual students and the needs of the college community as a whole. Given the demand for clinical services and the nature of the college calendar the �鶹��Ƶ Counseling Center operates from a short-term therapy model. Furthermore, some students require specialized care that falls outside of the center's scope of practice. In cases where the Counseling Center staff determines they cannot fully meet the needs of a student, off-campus referrals may be provided. At the same time, we recognize that an individual student’s needs or the needs of the college may demand that we be flexible in the nature and amount of clinical services that we provide.

The purpose of the referral procedures and guidelines is to

• Provide guidance, ensure consistency of clinical practice and hold Counseling Center staff accountable in balancing the needs of the community with the needs of the individual student
• Enable clear communication of clinical practice to the larger college community
• Provide a record of accepted practice for new staff and interns

Students are also referred to other on-campus offices for specific help in various areas. The Counseling Center also provides referrals to off-campus professionals or agencies for services not available at the college.

Here is a list of common off-campus referrals.

As a consumer of psychological services offered by mental health therapists licensed by the state of Minnesota, you have the right:

• To expect that a mental health therapist has met the minimal qualifications of training and experience required by state law;
• To examine public records maintained by the a therapists' licensing board, which contain the credentials of a mental health therapist (see reporting complaints section below for board contact information);
• To obtain a copy of the rules of conduct from the State Register and Public Documents Division, Department of Administration, 117 University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55155;
• To report complaints about Licensed Psychologists (LP) to the Board of Psychology contact the ; for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC), and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC) contact the ; for Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) contact the ; and for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) .
• To be informed of the cost of professional services before receiving the services;
• To be provided with a non-technical explanation about the nature and purpose of the psychological procedures to be used in your treatment, upon request
• To be free from being the object of discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, or other unlawful category while receiving psychological services;
• To be free from exploitation for the benefit or advantage of the mental health therapist;
• To privacy as defined by rule and law;
• To have access to your records as provided in Minnesota Statutes section 144.291 to 144.298, except as otherwise provided by law or prior written agreement
  • Upon request, the mental health therapist will supply complete and current information in non-technical language about your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
  • Upon written request, the mental health therapist will promptly furnish copies of your records or, with your consent, a summary of the record
  • If the mental health therapist reasonably determines that the information you have requested would be detrimental to your physical and mental health, the mental health therapist may withhold that information from you and supply it instead to an appropriate third party or other treatment provider. That third party or treatment provider may release the information to you.
  • The mental health therapist may also withhold information that you have requested if prior to your request that therapist has defined and described a specific basis for withholding that information
• To be informed about disclosures of your private records that may be made without your written consent. Your information shared with the mental health therapist will be kept confidential unless you are in imminent risk of hurting yourself, you are in imminent risk of hurting another person, you know of minors or vulnerable adults who are being hurt or neglected, or you are a woman who is pregnant and using certain classes of illicit drugs. In those situations, appropriate emergency or health care personnel will be contacted in order to address those safety issues. If you have been exploited or abused by a previous psychological treatment provider, that provider’s licensing board will be contacted. Additionally, if a subpoena is issued and requires that a copy of your counseling records be turned over, the mental health therapist will be required to provide a copy of your records to comply with the court order
• To terminate services at any time, except as otherwise provided by law or court order

If you have concerns about the services you have been provided, you may also choose to file a complaint to your counselor’s supervisor. Direct complaints to the director of the Counseling Center or the Dean of Students Office.

Since we believe that a large portion of our student body is active on social media, we utilize Instagram as a platform to increase student engagement. We currently utilize Instagram and use the handle @�鶹��ƵCounseling. The �鶹��Ƶ Counseling Center utilizes Instagram as a form of outreach to:

• inform the �鶹��Ƶ community about Counseling Center services,
• provide education and awareness regarding mental health issues among college students,
• and to engage with more students who may not otherwise interact with our department.

There are potential risks and benefits that students can face in engaging with social media for mental health support.

The risks include:

• social media content alone may not be sufficient to support an individual’s mental health needs
  • we emphasize that our Instagram posts are meant to be educational and not as a substitute for clinical mental health care
  • to encourage appropriate and timely response to student mental health needs, commenting and messaging features on our Instagram account are turned off and students are encouraged (on our account bio section) to refer to our website for information on how to connect with us (via phone, email, or in-office visits) and appropriate crisis/emergency response services
• while we don’t disclose identifying information about our clients or their engagement with our center, we cannot fully ensure that student engagement with our Instagram account is private or confidential
   
  • if students comment on or share posts on Instagram, this information may be publicly accessible on Instagram; likewise, the list of accounts that follow our Instagram account is publicly accessible on Instagram
     
    • to enhance student privacy and confidentiality, we have decided to turn off commenting features on our posts
    • we do not connect, link, or tag personal social media accounts for �鶹��Ƶ students and/or employees
    • our account does not "comment" on individual student or employee accounts
    • our account does not follow students’ personal accounts, it may follow �鶹��Ƶ organizational accounts though as this will help our account to show up as a “suggested account” for �鶹��Ƶ community members to find and follow

The benefits students can gain from engaging with our Instagram account include:

• increased college student mental health literacy, coping skills, and other ways to promote wellbeing
• familiarity with our services and other campus resources to promote student wellbeing

While we take steps to disable messaging and comment features, accounts that our account follows (i.e., other student organizations on campus) still have the capability of messaging our account. In the case that someone messages our account for information or support, we will respond to their message with directions on how to get in contact with our office for further communication or support.