As a professional school counselor, I am bound by the codes of ethics dictated by both the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the American Counselor’s Association (ACA). As a school counselor, I address academic, career, and social emotional development of students and partner with stakeholders, to create equitable systems and to advocate for positive change. I have ethical obligations to co-workers, parents and caregivers, community members, and most importantly to students.
Student Rights
All students on my caseload have the right to be respected, regardless of background or social status. I have the obligation to provide students with any and all information that may help them find autonomy and long-term success. Students have the right to an equitable education. As a counselor, I will work to dismantle inequitable systems and advocate to close gaps in student achievement and attainment. Finally, students have the right to safety. I will report abuse and neglect and will work diligently to prevent violence and bullying and will intervene quickly and using best practices when I become aware that it is happening at my school.
Remaining Up-To-Date and Aware
As a counselor, my professional growth never ends. The field is constantly changing and I will face new situations frequently. Thus, it is important that I cultivate relationships with other counseling professionals, who I can call on to consult with when I need to. As a lifetime learner, I will seek professional development and learning opportunities often. I will review research on best practice frequently. This will assist me in my ability to provide students with information and support regarding their social-emotional, career, personal, and academic development.
In addition, I need to remain aware of the social forces that are impacting my students and their families. In response, I will advocate for systemic supports and will be knowledgeable about resources that may support students and their families. I will seek information regarding new laws, regulations, and policies that may impact the students in my care. I will also maintain membership in professional associations and community networks.
Confidentiality
In my work with students and families, I will work to maintain confidentiality and will only share information with outside agencies when I am required to as a mandated reporter of as a subpoenaed witness in a court case. As such, I will ensure that the students I am working with and their caregivers are aware the limitations of confidentiality. I will explain the limits of confidentiality using developmentally and culturally appropriate language. When I am obligated to breach confidentiality, I will ensure that the breach is made in the least intrusive way possible. Although my primary obligation is to students, parents and guardians have rights to make choices on student’s behalf. I will remain mindful of this.
Comprehensive Data-Informed Program
As a school counselor, I collaborate with stakeholders, review student data, and collect data to design a comprehensive counseling program that addresses the academic, personal/social/emotional, and career development of students in my care. My program will include targeted interventions to address student gaps. It will also prepare students for upcoming transitions to the next educational level or to the world of work and college/trade school. My comprehensive counseling program will include a partnership with community agencies, so that I can connect students and families with needed resources, seek supervision when needed, and make referrals when the student needs extend beyond my capacity to support them. These referrals will be respectful of the cultural and religious backgrounds of students and families.
Responsibilities to the School
As a school counselor, my ethical and legal obligations extend to the school I am employed at. For example, it is my responsibility to build professional relationships and communication systems with school faculty and administrators, to support students. My comprehensive counseling program will be geared at promoting the school’s stated mission statement. I will educate my colleagues on the role of a school counselor, so that my skills can best be utilized. I will also assist in keeping school employees up-to-date on best practices, by providing professional development workshops and offering information on new research.
Ethical Decision Making
Although the ethical standards by which I abide are clear and comprehensive, I will inevitably encounter ethical dilemmas not clearly defined by the standards. In such a case, I will follow the Ethical Decision Making Model, outlined in the ASCA code of ethics. I will begin by defining the situation intellectually and emotionally. I will then identify the ASCA standard that most closely relates to the dilemma. I will consider the developmental level of the student, the setting of the school, and the rights of those involved, especially parents and students. I will then integrate the ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, non-maleficence, loyalty, and justice. I will consider different courses of actions and their potential consequences and select the best one. I will evaluate this course of action and seek consultation when needed. Finally, after all this consideration, I will implement the course of action.
Student Rights
All students on my caseload have the right to be respected, regardless of background or social status. I have the obligation to provide students with any and all information that may help them find autonomy and long-term success. Students have the right to an equitable education. As a counselor, I will work to dismantle inequitable systems and advocate to close gaps in student achievement and attainment. Finally, students have the right to safety. I will report abuse and neglect and will work diligently to prevent violence and bullying and will intervene quickly and using best practices when I become aware that it is happening at my school.
Remaining Up-To-Date and Aware
As a counselor, my professional growth never ends. The field is constantly changing and I will face new situations frequently. Thus, it is important that I cultivate relationships with other counseling professionals, who I can call on to consult with when I need to. As a lifetime learner, I will seek professional development and learning opportunities often. I will review research on best practice frequently. This will assist me in my ability to provide students with information and support regarding their social-emotional, career, personal, and academic development.
In addition, I need to remain aware of the social forces that are impacting my students and their families. In response, I will advocate for systemic supports and will be knowledgeable about resources that may support students and their families. I will seek information regarding new laws, regulations, and policies that may impact the students in my care. I will also maintain membership in professional associations and community networks.
Confidentiality
In my work with students and families, I will work to maintain confidentiality and will only share information with outside agencies when I am required to as a mandated reporter of as a subpoenaed witness in a court case. As such, I will ensure that the students I am working with and their caregivers are aware the limitations of confidentiality. I will explain the limits of confidentiality using developmentally and culturally appropriate language. When I am obligated to breach confidentiality, I will ensure that the breach is made in the least intrusive way possible. Although my primary obligation is to students, parents and guardians have rights to make choices on student’s behalf. I will remain mindful of this.
Comprehensive Data-Informed Program
As a school counselor, I collaborate with stakeholders, review student data, and collect data to design a comprehensive counseling program that addresses the academic, personal/social/emotional, and career development of students in my care. My program will include targeted interventions to address student gaps. It will also prepare students for upcoming transitions to the next educational level or to the world of work and college/trade school. My comprehensive counseling program will include a partnership with community agencies, so that I can connect students and families with needed resources, seek supervision when needed, and make referrals when the student needs extend beyond my capacity to support them. These referrals will be respectful of the cultural and religious backgrounds of students and families.
Responsibilities to the School
As a school counselor, my ethical and legal obligations extend to the school I am employed at. For example, it is my responsibility to build professional relationships and communication systems with school faculty and administrators, to support students. My comprehensive counseling program will be geared at promoting the school’s stated mission statement. I will educate my colleagues on the role of a school counselor, so that my skills can best be utilized. I will also assist in keeping school employees up-to-date on best practices, by providing professional development workshops and offering information on new research.
Ethical Decision Making
Although the ethical standards by which I abide are clear and comprehensive, I will inevitably encounter ethical dilemmas not clearly defined by the standards. In such a case, I will follow the Ethical Decision Making Model, outlined in the ASCA code of ethics. I will begin by defining the situation intellectually and emotionally. I will then identify the ASCA standard that most closely relates to the dilemma. I will consider the developmental level of the student, the setting of the school, and the rights of those involved, especially parents and students. I will then integrate the ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, non-maleficence, loyalty, and justice. I will consider different courses of actions and their potential consequences and select the best one. I will evaluate this course of action and seek consultation when needed. Finally, after all this consideration, I will implement the course of action.