Student Requirements

All students must keep client confidentiality.  This includes keeping all client information (including files, paperwork, and video) in secure areas in Peck Hall.  It also includes not discussing cases in public areas, not talking with anyone about a client unless you have a signed release and protecting client confidentiality in areas outside of Peck Hall.

The privilege and responsibility of the student therapist also extends to persons observing or on teams behind the mirror or in the monitor room. Clients give permission to be observed by signing the agreement forms, but they need to be notified when they are being observed.  Observers or team members should excuse themselves from any case in which the clients are known in another context.  Persons watching or teaming maintain the same confidentiality as the student therapist.

Special care must be taken to protect confidentiality while working remotely.  Telephone calls must be conducted in private spaces, and client information should not be viewed or heard by anyone outside the therapy team.

All therapists are to be on time for their appointments.  If you are going to be late, you must let your client and the Clinic Administrative Assistant know.

Timeliness also includes such things as returning client’s calls promptly, scheduling rooms in advance (24-hours in advance), completing session summaries, and closing case files in a timely manner.

Students are expected to engage in cultural humility, awareness of self in relation to others, and an understanding of psychosocial and cultural contexts of issues presented in clinical practice and research. We believe that valuing each other’s similarities and differences helps us to deepen our understanding of relationships in systems. Students are required to see clients with diverse backgrounds/experiences and may not choose their caseloads based on race, class, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, culture, age, or aspects of social location.

All therapists will demonstrate respect for all clients in the CFTC.  We hope to be a welcoming, safe, and affirmative place for people from all backgrounds, beliefs, and identities.  Therapists will be culturally sensitive to the needs of clients seeking services.

Peck Hall has several functions: a couple and family therapy training center, a departmental office, and classroom space.  The attire of a student might not be appropriate for a professional role. Casual clothing such as ripped/torn jeans, tank tops, work-out or athleisure clothes or low-cut clothing is not considered professional clothing. When wearing skirts or shorts, consider the length and style of these types of clothes and how they may impact your ability to engage in session or undermine your professionalism. Dressing in these ways can undermine your professional role, especially as a student. If you are placed at a community site that is an extension of the Center, your presentation may adjust to the expectations of that community site.

Professional attire is also required while participating in telehealth sessions. All telehealth sessions are completed in Peck Hall and professional attire still applies as clients are in the clinic.

In Peck Hall, the rooms are not completely soundproof so please keep your voice down when you are in them.  Be RESPECTFUL of the persons in the therapy room and act with integrity.  Just as you would not write a session summary that you would not be willing to let the client read, hold yourself to the standard to only say in the process of watching that which you would be willing to have them hear as if they were watching and listening to you comment on them.  They have given you access to themselves and their worlds in a vulnerable way.  Honor this gift with your respect.  Sound can be easily interpreted as laughter.  You do not need to be solemn behind the mirror, but certainly be discreet and respectful.  You should maintain your focus on the session while behind the mirror or watching on a monitor.  Therefore, talking on cell phones, texting, or tending to other unrelated work is not acceptable.

While conducting or participating in teletherapy sessions, professional behavior is still expected.  This includes attending to the session, dressing professionally, and maintaining professional posture.