h. Provide effective, responsive interventions to address student needs.
i. Consider the involvement of support networks, wraparound services and educational teams needed
to best serve students.
j. Maintain appropriate boundaries and are aware that any sexual or romantic relationship with
students whether legal or illegal in the state of practice is considered a grievous breach of ethics and
is prohibited regardless of a student’s age. This prohibition applies to both in-person and electronic
interactions and relationships
A.2. Confidentiality
a. Inform individual students of the purposes, goals, techniques and rules of procedure under
which they may receive counseling. Disclosure includes the limits of confidentiality in a
developmentally appropriate manner. Informed consent requires competence on the part of
students to understand the limits of confidentiality and therefore, can be difficult to obtain from
students of a certain developmental level. Professionals are aware that even though every
attempt is made to obtain informed consent it is not always possible and when needed will make
counseling decisions on students behalf.
c. Recognize the complicated nature of confidentiality in schools and consider each case in
context. Keep information confidential unless legal requirements demand that confidential
information be revealed or a breach is required to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to the
student. Serious and foreseeable harm is different for each minor in schools and is defined by
students’ developmental and chronological age, the setting, parental rights and the nature of the
harm. School counselors consult with appropriate professionals when in doubt as to the validity
of an exception.
d. Recognize their primary obligation for confidentiality is to the students but balance that
obligation with an understanding of parents’/guardians’ legal and inherent rights to be the
guiding voice in their children’s lives, especially in value-laden issues. Understand the need to
balance students’ ethical rights to make choices, their capacity to give consent or assent and
parental or familial legal rights and responsibilities to protect these students and make decisions
on their behalf.
A.6. Appropriate Referrals and Advocacy
School counselors:
a. Collaborate with all relevant stakeholders, including students, educators and parents/guardians
when student assistance is needed, including the identification of early warning signs of student
distress.
b. Provide a list of resources for outside agencies and resources in their community to student(s) and
parents/guardians when students need or request additional support. School counselors provide
multiple referral options or the district’s vetted list and are careful not to indicate an endorsement or
preference for one counselor or practice. School counselors encourage parents to interview outside
professionals to make a personal decision regarding the best source of assistance for their student.
