*Counselor must work with their practicum instructors to provide an individualized policy for emergencies, interruptions, or needs to prematurely terminate sessions.*
In the event of a fire or other emergency that requires evacuation from the Community Counseling Clinic, the meeting location is the open areas of Lovejoy Fountain Park. All students, faculty, staff, and clients must evacuate the building at any point the fire alarms sound or if asked to do so for any other emergency. If you are in a session with a client during which the clinic is evacuated, please adhere to the policy presented below.
In the event of fire or evacuation, counselors must:
Stop the counseling session and calmly inform the client that evacuation of the building is necessary.
Clients should be instructed to bring their belongings.
Exit the counseling room, close the door, and escort the client to the meeting location.
Whenever possible, follow the instructions of the emergency ushers, they will be wearing safety vests.
Once at the meeting location, inform the client that it is their decision to wait for safe return to the Community Counseling Clinic.
If the client decides to leave, inform them that you will contact them via the clinic phone as a follow up.
If the client's belongings are left behind, inform them that you will do your best to secure these items upon safe entrance back into the Community Counseling Clinic; however, you nor the clinic are responsible for any damages.
Discussion of therapeutically relevant information is prohibited by counselors outside the clinic. Counselors should inform their clients of this once they have reached the meeting area.
The Clinic Team will work to shut down all pertinent recordings and computers prior to evacuation, and will conduct a sweep of the clinic suite to ensure all individuals have evacuated. The Clinic Team will do their best to lock all clinic rooms as long as it is safe to do so. In the event that a client is experiencing a crisis during an evacuation, the counselor must inform their Practicum Instructor and/or Clinic Director as soon as it is safe to do so. The Practicum Instructor and/or Clinic Director can assist in finding a secluded area to facilitate further crisis assessment.