Wofford College Counseling Services
Informed Consent – Revised September 2019
Informed Consent to Counseling
Wellness Center, Hugh R. Black Building, 864-597-4370
General Information
Counseling is a process by which individuals, who are dissatisfied with some aspects of their
lives, meet with trained professionals in order to gain greater insight into their circumstances
and to develop more effective ways of handling and responding to their situations.
In general, counselors do not give advice but seek to help you understand yourself and your
situation more fully so that you may see your options more clearly and make good decisions for
yourself. Though we cannot guarantee specific results toward your personal or career goals,
counseling does benefit many people, and we will do our best to achieve the best results for you.
As a client, you have the right for all explanations to be conveyed in plain language and to ask
questions if you do not understand. These sessions are to assist you! You have the right to be
treated respectfully by your counselor as well as to end counseling at any time.
Students at Wofford College may receive counseling for no charge. Due to a high demand for our
services, there are session limits for individual therapy. Students enrolled full time during the
semester may receive up to 15 sessions per academic year.
Having a session limit helps us to provide services to as many students as possible while also
maintaining a reasonable wait time for appointments. Students will work with their therapists to
decide how they will use their appointments and other resources on or off-campus in support of
their health.
Students preferring to have more intensive or frequent therapy sessions may consult with
counseling staff to learn about off-campus resources. Students may also refer to the Off Campus
Counseling Referral Guide on the Counseling Services website.
At times, a student may be dealing with issues that are beyond the scope of the providers on
campus. In those cases, students will be referred to specialists off campus that can best help
them with their needs. The cost of that treatment will be the responsibility of the student.
Counseling services staff are always happy to assist students with finding treatment options off
campus, if necessary.
Wofford College Counseling Services
Informed Consent – Revised September 2019
Wofford does provide psychiatric services on a limited basis. Students who see the psychiatrist
must be working with one of the counselors in the Counseling Center. Psychiatric appointments
will be scheduled with Pam Michaels upon check out or with your therapy provider.
There is a cost associated with seeing the psychiatrist.
• Initial assessment with psychiatrist is $35.
• Follow-up appointments are $15
Scheduling
Please use the Wellness Center Portal to schedule appointments. Your provider will discuss with
you the appropriate frequency of your sessions. You may use the Wellness Center Portal or call
the office at least 24 hours in advance if you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment.
While we do not charge for late cancellations or no-shows, we ask you to remember that there
are other people who may be seeking appointment times.
If you are encountering a difficult time and need an appointment more quickly than the next
available appointment, please raise the “I need help – personal counseling” flag on Starfish. You
will be contacted by a provider to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
If you are struggling to find an appointment time but not encountering an emergency, please
schedule the next available appointment that works with your schedule. Some students choose
to schedule a few sessions out to ensure that they can find a time that works for them. You may
then discuss with your provider at your next appointment any scheduling difficulties so that they
can assist you.
Confidentiality and Communication
Your communications with your counselor are confidential. At times, counselors may consult
with each other to assess appropriate support. This information is kept confidential within the
clinical staff. Counseling staff may also collaborate with medical staff including the Nurse
Practitioner and/or Psychiatrist as a part of the integrated care team. Any information that is
shared within the Wellness Center is kept confidential according to HIPAA guidelines. You may
read the Notice of Privacy Practices for more detailed information.
Please be aware that communications via phone lines may not be confidential because we
cannot guarantee absolute security of this method. We have taken steps to insure confidentiality
through our systems. Any written communication, including e-mails, secure messages, and text
messages become part of the client file.
While we make every effort to respond to client communication (phone calls, emails, secure
messages) in a timely manner, it may not be possible to respond to them for at least 24 hours or
until the next business day.
We ask that you use the secure messaging feature on the Wellness
Center portal when communicating through electronic means.
While we understand that e-mail is
Wofford College Counseling Services
Informed Consent – Revised September 2019
a fast and convenient form of communication on a college campus, we cannot ensure the
security and confidentiality of this type of communication. If you choose to use email to
communicate with your provider, our staff will assume that you have made an informed decision
and are accepting the risks associated with that type of communication.
E-mails and secure
messages should not be used for a crisis situation.
If you are in a crisis in need of immediate assistance you may contact Campus Safety at (864)597-
4911 or the RA on duty
.
Information shared by you with your counselor will not be released without your permission,
except for the following legal and ethical exceptions:
• If, in your counselor’s professional opinion, you present an imminent threat of serious
harm to yourself or others.
• If you disclose actual or possible abuse or neglect of a minor or vulnerable person, we are
required to report the information to the appropriate department or social services.
• If we are ordered by a court of law to release information about you.
• Please sign below to indicate that you have read, understand and accept the information
and conditions in this document and to provide that you have informed consent to
participate in personal or career counseling.
Statement about Social Media:
Counselors do not accept friend or follow requests from clients. Social Media (Twitter,
Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) is considered public communication. Connecting on these
platforms could compromise your confidentiality. Interacting on these platforms could create
the possibility that these exchanges would become part of counseling records.
As we understand that clients will go on to graduate and may encounter former counselors in
another capacity that is no longer within the scope of the therapeutic relationship, there may be
the opportunity to make case by case decisions a certain number of years after graduation.
However, your counselor will never initiate an invitation to connect on social media.
Statement about Emotional Assistance Animals:
Wofford Counseling Services staff are not able to provide assessments, recommendations or
documentation to support the need of an Emotional Support Animal. ESAs are viewed under the
Federal Housing Act as a "reasonable accommodation" for those who have a physical or mental
disability. Wofford College guidelines and procedures for ESAs can be found by visiting the
Accessibility Services website.
By my signature below I acknowledge that I have read and fully understand the above and have
access to a copy of this form.
Wofford College Counseling Services
Informed Consent – Revised September 2019
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Signature Date
