Northern Arizona University

1. To consult with a counselor who will help you identify key issues and potential resources and strategies for assistance.
   
   Recommended resources might include CTC counseling services or other services available at NAU, in Flagstaff or in other communities. A consultation or counseling session can take up to 45 minutes.
        Counseling is a conversation or series of conversations between you and a trained professional, who may be a psychologist, a social worker, a counselor or an intern. An intern is a graduate student who is in the process of being trained as a professional. The conversations between you and the professional are intended to help you clarify confusing issues in your life, or to help you manage difficult relationships, or to help you find ways to lessen emotional distress.
        If more than the initial consultation is recommended, the frequency of sessions, number of sessions, goals, and type of counseling (e.g., either individual or group counseling) will be determined by you and your counselor within the limits of our center's resources and within our professional staff’s clinical expertise. CTC services are designed to address short-term issues and concerns; issues requiring longer-term treatment will be referred elsewhere. Sometimes students may find that a referral to a counselor off campus will more likely meet their counseling needs; your counselor will help you with such a referral, if appropriate.
        Group counseling brings people with common therapeutic goals together. CTC groups are professionally led and are typically 90-minute weekly meetings for about 10 weeks of the semester. Frequently offered groups deal with: enhancing relationships, support for relaxation/stress management, women’s issues, alcohol/drug education and recovery, eating and body image concerns, and personal growth.


2. To have what you say be confidential.
   
   What you say during counseling is confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone without your permission. Notes from meetings - along with any related items such as correspondence, psychological inventories, or referral information - will also be kept secure and confidential and will not be shared with anyone without your permission.
        There are, however, some exceptions to confidentiality. Psychologists and counselors are required by law, and by their professional ethics, to break confidentiality if any of the following situations arise: (a) If a counselor believes that someone is seriously considering and likely to attempt suicide; (b) if a counselor believes that someone intends to assault another person; (c) if a counselor believes someone is engaging or intends to engage in behavior which will expose another person to a potentially life-threatening communicable disease; (d) if a counselor suspects abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a minor or of an incapacitated adult; (e) if a counselor believes that someone’s mental condition leaves the person gravely disabled; (f) if ordered by the courts.


3. To receive quality team treatment.
   
   Another exception to confidentiality involves our team approach at CTC. Supervision: All interns and counselors receive regular supervision from another professional at this center, who will be reviewing the progress of your counselor’s work with you. Consultation: (a) To ensure the quality of comprehensive services, counselors may consult with health service providers at Fronske Health Center. (b) The Counseling & Testing Center is part of Campus Health Services, which also includes the Fronske Health Center and Disability Resources. On a regular basis, the counseling staff meets with staff from the Fronske Health Center and from Disability Resources to coordinate treatments. Shared information: CTC counselors have access to chart notes from Fronske Health Center; this information is used only in situations that warrant coordinated team treatment.
        Confidential information about the characteristics of the students who utilize CTC services and the services students have received is maintained in a secure, electronic database. This information is gathered for the purposes of program evaluation, and, in selected situations, research studies. Research results are provided only in summarized form and will not identify individual clients.
        If a student uses Emergency Services (during regular hours or after hours), it may be necessary to let others in the University system know you are in crisis in order to coordinate services for you and/or to minimize the negative impact the crisis might have on others in the community. We therefore may notify Residence Life, Student Life, Police, and/or Fronske Health Services with only minimal information. We may also notify your parents and/or other appropriate persons if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of you or other persons.


4. To know what the cost of CTC services are.
   
   Please see our "Eligibility and Cost Information".


5. To be referred to Disability Resources when appropriate.
   
   Individuals struggle with many different concerns. Sometimes these concerns indicate a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please feel free to discuss with your counselor whether your concerns might constitute a disability and whether you might want to talk with a coordinator in Disability Resources at NAU (phone: 523-8773).


6. To give feedback to your counselor.
   
   In addition to an anonymous survey CTC conducts each semester, you are encouraged to tell your counselor about what is helping and what is not. This feedback can increase the effectiveness of the counseling as well as your overall satisfaction with the process and outcomes.

Please note: E-mail is neither an effective nor confidential form of communication with the Counseling & Testing Center or with your counselor. If an emergency arises, please use the telephone to contact us at 523-2261; this CTC office number provides access to emergency services during and after office hours.