Scope of Practice and Confidentiality

The UNG Office of Student Counseling exists to:

Enhance, support, and maintain the emotional health, development and well-being of the University of North Georgia students;
Inform, advise and support, in its areas of expertise, those involved with the University and support the students;
And at times, educate and train professionals in psychotherapy and counseling, college mental health, human development and related fields.

Scope of Practice

Concerns Within Our Scope

Coping effectively with and talking through immediate life stressors
Gaining concrete skills to cope with new challenges
Reducing emotional distress, fostering resilience
Life skills building
Problem resolution
Development of stress and time management for success in the college environment
Interpersonal concerns regarding friends, family, roommates, romantic partners, etc.
Self-esteem concerns
Transition to college support
Identity development related to various dimensions of identities (sexual, racial/ethnic, religious, gender, etc.) and connection to healthy supports on campus
Academic performance, motivation, and perfectionism or other issues that affect academic performance
Provide diagnosis and treatment for minor or short-term mental health issues such as mild to moderate anxiety and depression
Non-complex traumatic events (Single event trauma): car accident, death, bullying 1x, etc.

Concerns Beyond Our Scope

Active/Impairing significant eating concerns/disorders
Active/Impairing drug or alcohol problems as the primary presenting issue
Students with ongoing, persistent behavioral issues or safety concerns
Untreated psychotic disorders
Clients who need weekly or more frequent sessions, including clients with frequent crises, incidents, or episodes requiring clinical intervention
Students who require services beyond the expertise of staff
Student who is already in treatment with another mental health provider
Students seeking documentation for Emotional Support Animals
Students seeking therapy for the sole purpose of obtaining documentation for another university office
Mandated clinical services
Couples or family therapy
Students who have a history of multiple hospitalizations due to a psychiatric concern
Comprehensive psychological evaluations of any type, including but not limited to: forensic evaluations, custody or divorce assessments, academic disability, neuropsychological exams, ADHD assessments, etc.

Confidentiality Policy

In accordance with law, what a client discusses with their therapist is kept strictly confidential unless the client provides written permission to release information to other parties. However, there are limited exceptions where information can be legally and ethically released without the client’s consent or authorization.

The exceptions include:

If the client presents as an imminent threat or danger to themselves, their therapist is permitted to release information necessary for the purpose of his or her protection (such as contacting family members, emergency contacts, the police, University officials, and/or seeking hospitalization);
Where an imminent threat of physical violence or harm exists, the therapist may take action which may include notifying the potential victim(s), the police, University officials, family members, emergency contacts, or seeking hospitalization;
Where abuse or neglect of children (persons who are currently under the age of 18), the elderly (age 65 or older), or disabled/incompetent individuals is known or reasonably suspected, the therapist must file a report with the appropriate state agency;
In court proceedings, a judge may require through a court order the release of the records and/or the therapist’s testimony.
In the event the client or a legal representative of the client files a lawsuit against the UNG Student Counseling Center or therapist, the client’s records and/or therapist’s testimony may be released to the involved parties; and may be used to defend the UNG Student Counseling Center or therapist.

Service to Minors Policy

Minors cannot be seen for treatment without the informed consent of their legal guardian. It is also our practice to get assent from the minor seeking services.

In emergency situations, it may be necessary to provide crisis intervention, but ongoing services cannot be offered before consent from the legal guardian is obtained. The legal guardian must be present at the first appointment to provide written consent to the Student Counseling Center. If the parents are divorced only the legal guardian with the right to make healthcare decisions can sign the consent and a copy of the most current court-approved parenting plan must be submitted prior to the start of therapy. Other legal guardians must present similar paperwork from the court. The legal guardian is only required to attend the first few minutes of the first session.

After consent and assent are given, the legal guardian is able to leave the session. If a legal guardian is unable to attend the first session, UNG students are welcome to contact the 24/7 mental health support line at 833-910-3368 to obtain free, confidential therapy services.

Discrimination Policy

The staff of the University of North Georgia (UNG) Office of Student Counseling seeks to promote human welfare. Consistent with this principle, we believe that every person should be treated with dignity and respect. We value acceptance and appreciation for all differences among people including those of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, functional ability, socio-economic status, age, religious or spiritual identification, and other characteristics that comprise identity. We work toward providing respectful care to students of any background/identity.

We believe that valuing cultural diversity facilitates human growth and development as well as enhances the quality of life on campus and in our communities. Therefore, we are committed to enhancing the awareness and understanding of cultural diversity, incorporating this philosophy into our professional activities and clinical services.

We are also committed to the respect for the autonomy, self-determination, and self-authorship of the client by the therapist. It is important that clinicians work with clients in a way that helps the client own their life and make their own decisions with the only exception being when, in the clinician’s professional judgment, clients’ actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others. The clinician has expertise in matters of mental health and therefore, within the scope of their practice, can offer particular suggestions within that limited realm. Examples might be recommended treatments for depression, suggestion of a medication consult, etc. The therapist should only operate within the scope of their competency and license.