Confidentiality

Psychological Services staff is dedicated to providing quality mental health services to the students of Kent State University. It is our intention to protect your confidential information as required by law and in keeping with your rights.

All information is private and will not be shared with anyone beyond the Psychological Services staff. There may be times when a student is receiving services from both Psychological Services and University Health Services. In such cases, information may be disclosed between these two areas as permitted under the same Federal and State statutes.

No information, including the fact that a student is receiving counseling, will be shared with relatives, professors, or college authorities without written permission. The only exceptions are:

When there is risk of harm to the student or another person, psychologists have a legal and ethical duty to do whatever is necessary to protect life.

When a court of law orders a psychologist to release information, the psychologist is bound by law to comply with such an order.

When a psychologist is obligated by law to report suspicion of current physical or sexual abuse of minors or elders.

When the student is under 18 years of age. By law parents can request information from their child’s medical record with or without written permission.