Counselling Services
Policies |
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The pages listed below outline some of the major policies adhered to by Laurier’s Counselling Services.
| Confidentiality | Office Conduct |
| Dual Relationships | Eligibility and Fees |
| Academic Documentation | Duplication of Service |
A client’s use of our professional service, along with any information shared by the client, remains confidential within Counselling Services. No personally identifiable client information will be released to anyone without the client’s written permission.
Rare exceptions where the release of some information may be required by law include:
Even when one of these exceptions does apply, the client may be quite willing to release the required information anyway, with voluntary consent. Ask the counsellor if you have a question about this policy.
To respect client privacy, a counsellor who sees a client with other people outside the office will generally not acknowledge that person first. The counsellor will respond appropriately if the client is comfortable enough to initiate a greeting in that situation.
Electronic communication such as e-mail is not considered secure or confidential enough for use between client and counsellor.
In appointing students to paid or unpaid positions within Counselling Services, we will consider only appropriate requirements for effective participation in those positions within our setting. One such requirement is that a student employee, volunteer, or practicum student not occupy a potentially conflicting client role within our own service.
This is especially important where a client’s participation in a selection or employment process could compromise their own ongoing professional care in the same office. A current (or even former) client relationship here could in turn bias the selection, supervision, or evaluation of such a person in a contributing role.
On the other hand, clients or former clients should not be excluded from consideration for student positions if no potential conflict can be seen to exist in a particular circumstance. Inquire with our office about the limitations that may apply if you are interested in a particular position.
If a current trainee, volunteer, or student employee would like professional counselling, we can expedite her/his eligibility for an alternate source of such help nearby, to preserve clear boundaries and personal privacy in that event as well.
To be effective, professional counselling must be protected by confidentiality. Personal information shared within Counselling Services cannot be released as documentation for requested extensions, deferred exams, or other special academic consideration.
In occasional circumstances - and only with a client’s formal, written consent - we may confirm the student’s prior use of our service (i.e. attendance at counselling appointments on certain earlier dates) but not the content of those sessions. Nor can we assess the merits of that student’s specific academic claim.
If a student is feeling unable to fulfill some academic requirement - and some personal, psychological, or situational factors may be involved - we may help in other ways, according to individual circumstances: We can help the student to review the pros and cons of pursuing some academic consideration, and how to do so when personal matters are involved. The thorough airing of a stressful circumstance may reduce its distracting effect - and thus enhance the chance of successfully completed work, with or without extensions.
We can discuss specific strategies to enhance concentration or stress management for any difficult times ahead. We can address any academic performance fears in the broad context of the student’s long-term goals, to give some reassuring perspective. We may enhance the key study, learning and performance skills needed for the academic task at hand, now or later.
We may also help an instructor or academic advisor to respond helpfully to a student request for consideration, if we are asked for some general professional perspective without reference to the individual student’s identity or use of our services. Of course, we encourage staff referral of the student to Counselling Services for the kind of problem solving outlined above, apart from documentation issues.
We aim to offer professional services in an office environment that is comfortable and secure for students and staff alike. For our part, we will treat our service users with utmost respect.
To the same extent, effective service cannot proceed in the unusual event that staff feel personally threatened by a client’s behaviour or unable to engage a person in useful discussion for other reasons. Nor can we permit anyone’s conduct to interfere with normal office business or with the privacy, comfort or security of other users in our centre.
We reserve the right to request consideration of this policy and (as last resort) to deny access to our service if necessary to protect security in the area for others. We thank everyone for their consideration.
We serve all current Laurier students, full-time and part-time, graduate and undergraduate. Because all current students pay the comprehensive student services fee at registration, no direct fees are charged to clients using our various professional services.
Please Note However: If a student needs to cancel an appointment, a phone call must be made to counselling services a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the scheduled appointment. Appointment scheduled for Mondays must be cancelled before 4:00 p.m. on the preceding Friday. Failure to cancel within the above stated time, or not showing up for the appointment will result in a no-show fee of $10.00 being charged to the client. Suspensions of Centre services will be considered on the third no-show.
A partner, family member, or supportive friend may attend one or more joint sessions with a Laurier student, at the latter’s invitation. Prospective or former Laurier students may be eligible to use our services on a limited basis, within the constraints of staff availability at a particular time.
We provide a variety of consultative services to faculty and staff as well, especially with regard to serving students’ personal or learning needs. For their own personal or family needs, faculty and staff may access Laurier’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
In accord with sound ethical practice, Counselling Services will not provide personal counselling or psychotherapy to someone actively receiving such care elsewhere. This is intended to avoid duplication of service, possible conflict in approach, confusion for clients, and reduced clinical effectiveness.
The potential for reduced effectiveness or even harm to clients from overlapping treatment efforts is self-evident, especially in a field like counselling where therapeutic approaches may not be entirely compatible. Clients should be allowed to choose whichever service seems most promising to them, within their practical constraints of cost, location and time. Laurier students who wish to switch from professional care elsewhere to our service may certainly do so, though we would not encourage anyone to terminate a previously helpful relationship without careful consideration.
This policy does not restrict our provision of services that are clearly distinct from or complementary with services already provided elsewhere. For example, we may offer counselling for emotional issues when a client’s psychiatrist or physician is monitoring prescribed medications but not providing psychotherapy or counselling as well. Similarly, a student choosing to obtain personal counselling off campus could still receive specific study skills assistance in our office.
If a student receiving therapy/counselling elsewhere presents to us in immediate personal crisis, we would naturally assist with emergency consultation and referral, as circumstances dictate. However, we are not a primary crisis care centre in any event, especially for repeat use or ongoing support when a primary therapist elsewhere is responsible for continuing care.