Confidentiality

Trust is central to the therapeutic process. For counseling to be effective, clients must trust that the information they share at CCS will be kept strictly confidential. Any information disclosed during your contacts with CCS, or records maintained in written and/or electronic form, will be kept strictly confidential as required by State and Federal law, and by applicable ethical standards. Your written permission is required before any information about your contacts with CCS is released to anyone outside of CCS. According to current Illinois law, there are a few exceptions to the above rules of confidentiality and disclosure. Counselors are required by state law to report any instance of suspected child abuse to appropriate agencies. Counselors also have a duty to take action if they conclude that a client intends to harm him/herself or another person. Finally, if a client cites counseling records in any lawsuit, CCS may be required to release information related to your lawsuit. In all cases, your counselor will make every effort to resolve these issues with you before any action is taken.

As part of your mental health care, Counseling and Consultation Services originates and maintains mental health records describing your mental health history, symptoms, assessment results, diagnoses, treatment and any plans for future treatment. This information serves as a basis for planning your care and treatment. To assure you of the highest quality service, members of your treatment team may, at times, consult among themselves regarding a particular situation or person.