Confidentiality

All interactions with Still Waters Counseling Services, including scheduling of or attendance at appointments, content of your sessions, progress in counseling, and your records are confidential. No record of counseling is contained in any academic, educational, or job placement file. You may request in writing that specific information be released about your counseling to person(s) you designate.

Exceptions to Confidentiality

• If there is evidence of clear and imminent danger of harm to self and/or others, a therapist is legally required to report this information to the authorities responsible for ensuring safety.
• State law requires any therapist who learns of, or strongly suspects, physical or sexual abuse or neglect of any person under 18 years of age must report this information to county child protective services.
• State law also requires any therapist who learns of, or strongly suspects, physical or sexual abuse or neglect of any adult who is elderly or disabled must report this information to county adult protective services.
• A court order, issued by a judge, may require the therapist to release information contained in records and/or require a therapist to testify in a court hearing.

Client Rights and Responsibilities

As a client of Still Waters Counseling Services, you have a right to:

•  APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES in accordance with the standards of professional practice, appropriate to your needs and designed to afford you a reasonable opportunity to improve your condition
• PARTICIPATE IN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANNING, BE INFORMED OF THE NATURE OF THE TREATMENT PLAN PROPOSED
• REFUSE TREATMENT IF YOU ARE AN ADULT VOLUNTARY CLIENT
• NOT PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH OR TREATMENT WITHOUT INFORMED, VOLUNTARY, WRITTEN CONSENT WHICH MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME
• BE FREE FROM SECLUSION, CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL RESTRAINT unless necessary to prevent you from causing danger to yourself or others
• HAVE YOUR RECORDS CONFIDENTIALITY MAINTAINED AS REQUIRED BY LAW
• NOT HAVE YOUR RECORDS RELEASED TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO RECEIVE THEM UNLESS YOU PROVIDE WRITTEN CONSENT
• INSPECT AND COPY YOUR OWN RECORDS (At your own expense) unless denied for a good cause
• BE TREATED WITH CONSIDERATION, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT
• BE FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF AGE, RACE,COLOR, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RELIGION, ORIGIN,AND/OR DISABILITY
• CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR (at your own expense)
• BE INFORMED OF ADVOCACY SERVICES AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA
• BE INFORMED OF THESE RIGHTS PROMPTLY AND AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION TO TREATMENT. These rights must be conveyed in a manner of communication that you understand.
• MAINTAIN YOUR LEGAL RIGHT TO VOTE IN ANY LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL ELECTION
• FILE ANY GRIEVANCE WITH THE INDIANA DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH REGARDING THE VIOLATION OF THESE RIGHTS