It means that no one can phone or visit the Counseling Center and find out if you are receiving services. Counselors are bound both ethically and legally to maintain confidentiality within the limits of the law. Only Counseling Center clinical and support staff are permitted to access records and only as necessary to perform their job related functions. The physical file, including all documentation contained in it, is considered property of the Counseling Center. That physical file should not leave the Counseling Center.
Most information contained in files is considered property of the client.
The actual physical file is considered property of the Counseling Center. Thus, clients are entitled to a copy of their records upon written request, but they do not have a right to the physical file nor to any of the original material contained in the file. In such cases, the client should contact the originating source of those specific records. If the counselor determines that the file contains materials that could be misunderstood or misconstrued, that counselor has an ethical obligation to review the records with the client before releasing those records to the client. Upon said review and after signing a release of records form, the counselor will provide the client a copy of the records.