CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY
Because practicum and internship classes often include case discussions, reviews of tapes, and role plays, care must be taken to follow similar ethical principles within the supervision relationship and classroom setting as those used with clients in a counseling relationship. There are measures that we, as a department, take to lessen the possibility of confidentiality breeches.
The first step is for each member of the class to be informed about the principle of confidentiality and to agree to keep whatever occurs during the class strictly confidential. Interns are instructed that before recording therapy sessions or using audio or videotapes in class, they must obtain written permission from the client(s). Written “permission to record” forms should specify precisely the purpose of the taping, how the tapes will be used, the time period for which this use will be authorized, and what will happen to the tapes at the end of the time period. Students must clearly explain to clients that they have the right to refuse recording and students must not coerce the client into signing. Students must also give the client information about the purpose of the taping and the confidentiality of the information on the tapes. Students should inform the client that the tape will only be shared with the supervisor and the class, that information will be kept strictly confidential, and that the tapes will be erased by a specified date, no later than the end of the current semester, or immediately after the class.
Interns are advised that when they discuss cases in class they must take measures to protect the identity of clients. Interns will discuss clients using standard identification of simply Mr. X or Ms. X to describe all clients. Interns are also instructed that if speaking about the details of a case might reveal the identity of the individual, even without explicitly saying his or her name, the intern should discuss the case with the instructor before raising it in class. In such instances, particular caution is required and on occasion it will be better not to discuss a case in class if confidentiality cannot be preserved. A similar situation exists if tape-recorded therapy sessions would reveal a client’s distinctive voice and the identity of that person might be known to others. Under such circumstances, the need to protect the client’s confidentiality outweighs the educational benefit to the class. Students are instructed to put code numbers rather than names on client notes.
Client tapes are solicited as part of the supervision process as well as during the candidacy process. These tapes will be stored in the faculty supervisor’s or advisor’s office in a locked file cabinet along with any client notes. After the candidacy meeting or after a supervision session, tapes will be returned to the student to be protected in accordance with agency policy. Faculty supervisors may keep supervision notes. Those who do will store those notes in a locked file cabinet in their office. When reviewing an intern’s audio or videotape, care will be taken to protect the client’s confidentiality. Both will be played in a classroom behind a closed door, and in the case of videotapes, the video monitor will be faced away from windows and doors with windowpanes.
LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE
Concern about the vulnerability of counselors in malpractice suits has increased drastically in recent years. As a result, the Department of Counseling specifies that graduate students enrolled in the Practicum courses (CNS 585 and CNS 586) and the Clinical Field Experience courses (CNS 580, CNS 589, and CNS 590) need to be protected in the event someone should bring legal action against them. Since many agencies, schools, services or other placement sites used for Clinical Field Experiences do not provide for student liability coverage, it is required that the student purchase his/her own professional liability insurance before beginning these components of the program. Students must present evidence of liability insurance at the onset of their enrollment in Practicum or Clinical Field Experience or they will be suspended from the course until they provide proof of documentation. Further details are available in the pre-registration materials provided for Practicum and Clinical Field Experience.
ACT 34 AND PENNSYLVANIA
Students who will be working with children or adolescents as part of their Practicum and/or Field Experience courses must apply for an ACT 34 and a Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance prior to enrollment in those courses. Students must present evidence of these clearances at the onset of their enrollment in these courses or they will be suspended from the course until they provide proof of documentation.
