The goal of counseling is to help people achieve their desired life changes. 

CCC counselors are either licensed counselors or master’s degree counseling students working under the supervision of an Ohio licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.  The master’s degree student counselors are supervised by licensed counselors in order to enhance their effectiveness, and ensure consumers receive quality counseling services.

To facilitate the counseling process, the following list of consumer rights and responsibilities are presented:

Consumer Rights

• Be informed of your counselor's qualifications: education, experience, and professional counseling certification(s) and state license(s).
• Receive an explanation of services offered, your time commitments, and/or other issues related to your counseling (e.g., assessment, diagnosis, progress) prior to receipt of services.
• Be informed of limitations of the counselor's practice to special areas of expertise (e.g., career development, ethnic groups, etc.) or age group (adolescents, older adults, etc.).
• Have all that you say in counseling treated confidentially with certain exceptions.  Ohio Codes currently* contain seven exemptions to privileged communication (confidentiality) that include:
  1. the communication or advice indicates clear and present danger to the client or other persons (cases in which there are indications of present or past child abuse or neglect of the client constitute a clear and present danger);
  2. the client gives express consent to the testimony;
  3. if the client is deceased, the surviving spouse or the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased client gives express consent;
  4. the client voluntarily testifies, in which case the counselor may be compelled to testify on the same subject;
  5. the court in-camera determines that the information communicated by the client is not germane to the counselor-client relationship;
  6. a court, in an action brought against a school, its administration, or any of its personnel by the client, rules after an in-camera inspection that the testimony of the school counselor is relevant to that action, and;
  7. the testimony is sought in a civil action and concerns court-ordered treatment or services received by a patient as part of a case plan journalized under section 2151.412 [2151.41.2] of the Revised Code or the court-ordered treatment or services are necessary or relevant to dependency, neglect, or abuse or temporary or permanent custody proceedings under Chapter 2151 of the Revised Code.
• Ask questions about the counseling techniques and strategies and be informed of your progress.
• Refuse to participate or engage in any technique, strategy, or intervention suggested by your counselor.
• Participate in setting goals and evaluating progress toward meeting them.
• Request referral for a second opinion at any time.
• Request copies of records and reports to be used by other counseling professionals.
• Receive a copy of the code of ethics to which your counselor adheres.
• Contact the appropriate professional organization if you have doubts or complaints relative to the counselor's conduct.
• Terminate the counseling relationship at any time.  Community Counseling Clinic counselors/students may also choose to discontinue treatment if your issues or circumstances are deemed beyond the scope of their professional training or the resources of the Clinic. 

Consumer Responsibilities

• Set and keep appointments with your counselor.  Let him/her know as soon as possible if you cannot keep an appointment.  Call 330-941-3056 to cancel and/or reschedule your appointment.
• Pay your fees in accordance with the schedule you pre-established with the CCC.  In most circumstances, counseling services at the Community Counseling Clinic are provided at no cost - or drastically reduced costs - to clients.
• Help plan your goals.
• Follow through with agreed upon goals.
• Keep your counselor informed of your progress toward meeting your goals.
• Terminate your counseling relationship before entering into arrangements with another counselor.

Note:  The above information was adapted from a statement jointly prepared by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) to help you understand and exercise your rights as a consumer of counseling services.  The YSU Community Counseling Clinic, NBCC, and CSI believe that clients who are informed consumers are able to best use counseling services to meet their individual needs.

*The Community Counseling Clinic will comply with Ohio Codes if additional laws and exemptions are enacted.