What Does Confidential Mean?

CST keeps most information private and confidential. In other words, what’s said at CST stays at CST. This means that we do not share information with the Title IX Office or other campus authorities. Generally, we do not share information with law enforcement. However, we do have some limits to confidentiality that involve concerns about the safety of a minor (someone under 18) or an elderly person, imminent risk of suicide or self-harm, or threat of harm to others. Your counselor will talk with you about these limits to confidentiality at your initial session, and we encourage you to ask questions about any concerns you may have.

One of the biggest concerns we hear from students is that they are afraid they will be hospitalized if they mention thoughts about suicide or self-harm. These are very common experiences during times of stress, and we know that most individuals will not act on these thoughts. However, we always take them seriously. The first step is to talk about a plan for safety and to work collaboratively with the student to ensure they can remain safe. In very rare cases, the plan for staying safety could include reaching out to others on campus and/or a hospital evaluation. We do our best to involve the student in this process and always take other steps and try other options before reaching this last resort.