The Counseling Center: Student Rights and Responsibilities
RIGHTS:
1) You have the Right to Considerate and Respectful Care at Shenandoah University’s Counseling
Center. You have the right to be treated with courtesy, respect, consideration, and dignity by all
who provide clinical services to you regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, culture,
sexual orientation, physical ability, lifestyle or any other personal attributes.
2) You have the Right to your Choice of Counselors. You have the right to know the names and
credentials of the clinical providers and the right to choose or change providers among the staff of
licensed and credentialed clinical providers at Shenandoah University’s Counseling Center.
3) You have the Right to Confidentiality and to expect confidential treatment of all communications
and records relating to you and your clinical history. Your written permission must be obtained
before any information will be shared with anyone not directly related to your care, except as
provided by law.
4) You have the Right to Privacy and to expect that all aspects of your clinical information and
records, including verbal communications and counseling sessions will be conducted in a private
and safe environment. You have the right to expect that your privacy will be respected and
protected by all members of the staff at Shenandoah University’s Counseling Center.
5) You have the Right to Understand and Participate in Your Care and to be an active participant in
decisions regarding your health including an explanation of your diagnosis and treatment in terms
you can understand.
6) You have the Right to Receive all Information Necessary about your care in order to give Informed
Consent before any diagnosis or therapeutic procedure is performed.
7) You have the Right to expect Responsive Service and in a timely manner to any reasonable
requests made for service.
8) You have the Right to voice any Grievance or any of your concerns or suggestions for service.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1) You have a Responsibility to Keep Appointments.
2) You have a Responsibility to Provide Accurate Information about your concerns.
3) You have a Responsibility to Ask Questions. Ask your counselor about anything you do not
understand, such as a diagnosis, treatment plan, test or policy.
4) You have a Responsibility to be Considerate and Respectful of the rights of other students seeking
help and of our university counselors.
5) You have a Responsibility to Follow all Instructions given to you regarding medications, follow-up
visits, treatments and education, and to notify your counselor if plans cannot be followed.