Dilemma+-+Group+C



A school counselor places the following statement in a parent handbook given to all parents as they enroll their child in the school: "If you are interested in any counseling relationship I might have with your child, please contact me. I respect the rights of parents, encourage parental involvement in their child's life, and am always willing to provide you with information.” This dilemma is a poor attempt to communicate collaborative efforts between the school counselor and parents. The counselor attempts to address sections B.1.a, B.2.b., and B.2.d of the ethical standards in the ASCA National Model (2005). These outline the counselors’ ethical responsibility to parents and guardians. Specifically, in this dilemma, the counselor wants to communicate to the parents her respect of parental rights and desire for parental involvement. Although the counselor shows good intentions of following certain ethical standards, she fails to acknowledge other ethical standards such as A.2.a, A.5.a, and B.2.a. The means in which she communicates her intentions is unethical. By sending out a blanket statement to parents, she fails to adequately inform them of the specific procedures of the counseling process and the role of confidentiality within that process. Also, her statement seems to give the parents full access to the counselor and counseling records without limits or boundaries. She needs to make sure the parents understand her limits as a school counselor in regard to confidentiality and counseling relationships. One boundary she needs to communicate is that referral could very well be a part of the counseling process. Overall, her emphasis needs to be known that her primary obligation is to the student (A.1.a, ASCA National Model, 2005).
 * Ethical Dilemma**
 * Solution**

The professional school counselor: A.1.a. Has a primary obligation to the student, who is to be treated with respect as a unique individual. A.2.a. Informs students of the purposes, goals, techniques and rules of procedure under which they may receive counseling at or before the time when the counseling relationship is entered. Disclosure notice includes the limits of confidentiality such as the possible necessity for consulting with other professionals, privileged communication, and legal or authoritative restraints. The meaning and limits of confidentiality are defined in developmentally appropriate terms to students. A.5.a. Makes referrals when necessary or appropriate to outside resources. Appropriate referrals may necessitate informing both parents/guardians and students of applicable resources and making proper plans for transitions with minimal interruption of services. Students retain the right to discontinue the counseling relationship at any time. B.1.a. Respects the rights and responsibilities of parents/guardians for their children and endeavors to establish, as appropriate, a collaborative relationship with parents/guardians to facilitate the student’s maximum development. B.2.a. Informs parents/guardians of the counselor’s role with emphasis on the confidential nature of the counseling relationship between the counselor and student. B.2.b. Recognizes that working with minors in a school setting may require counselors to collaborate with students’ parents/guardians. B.2.d. Makes reasonable efforts to honor the wishes of parents/guardians concerning information regarding the student, and in cases of divorce or separation exercises a good-faith effort to keep both parents informed with regard to critical information with the exception of a court order. References American School Counselor Association (2005). //The ASCA national model workbook//. Alexandria, VA: Author.
 * ASCA Ethical Standards Referenced**

Group C Kendra Wenning Lena Richardson Mandi Sommers Andrea Buzzell