Confidentiality

The EAP views confidentiality as the cornerstone and foundation of our successful program. Our collective professional ethics mandate strict adherence to the maintenance of confidentiality, and the high level of use by our employees is proof that we consistently meet this goal. Our records are maintained separately from Mayo Clinic Histories, Health Service records, and Personnel files, and are accessibly only by the EAP Coordinators.

The privacy of communication between a client and a mental health counselor is protected by law. Information about you will be released to others only if you have given written permission, or if one of the exceptions below applies.

Exceptions to confidentiality:

• If the mental health counselor believes that there is a clear risk of a client hurting themselves, appropriate local emergency contacts and/or relevant personnel will be involved to assist with client safety.
• If the mental health counselor believes that there is a clear risk of a client physically harming others, the counselor may have a duty to warn those at risk and local law enforcement.
• If the mental health counselor has reasonable belief that a child or vulnerable adult person is being abused, the clinician has a duty to report this to either Child or Adult Protective services.
• If a court orders a counselor's testimony, or subpoenas the counselor, the records may be released to the appropriate authority.