Dilemma+-+Group+D

  Shanqueetay Easley, Marjorie Rogers-Slagle, Andrea Sowell, Amy Millspaugh, Yoneko Washington,

} 13. A high school counselor has been seeing a student who is a senior on a regular basis after the student was referred for counseling after being disciplined several times for fighting with other students. At the third counseling session, the student informs the counselor that she sees a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in private practice weekly and has been in counseling with the LPC for about 6 months. The counselor asks the student if the counselor may contact the LPC and discuss the student's situation with her and the student agrees. The counselor has the student sign a form giving permission for the exchange of information and asks the student to have her mother or father sign the form as well. After the form has been signed by the student and a parent, the counselor calls the LPC, summarizes her counseling interventions with the student, and asks the LPC to consult with her regarding their work with the student. The LPC and the counselor agree regarding goals for the student and interventions they will use in the future. The issue presents itself when the student informs the school counselor at the third session, that she has been seeing a professional counselor every week for the last six months. Ethically, the counselor responds to the identified issue according to the ASCA code C.2., Sharing Information with Other Professionals. Once the student informed the school counselor of the other counseling relationship that existed, the school counselor asked permission to consult with the professional, supporting ASCA C.2. (a). The school counselor also supports ASCA C.2.(c) by acquiring consent from the parent/guardian for release of information to inform the professional counselor of current interventions being used. When the school counselor contacted the LPC, they collaborated about the student's work and progress and reached common goals for future interventions ASCA C.2.(b). The process of acquiring consent for release of information is in support of ASCA C.2.(d), acquiring both the student and parent/guardian's signatures for the sharing of information.. The scenario presented in situation #13 is deemed ethical conduct on the part of the school counselor. Thankfully the school counselor followed protocol according to the ASCA ethical standards, but if this would not have been the case, the consequences would have resulted in unethical behavior on the school counselor's part. If the school counselor would not have followed the ethical standards, the counselor would have potentially caused confusion and conflict for the student. ASCA C.2. Sharing Information with Other Professionals The professional school counselor: and adherence to appropriate guidelines regarding confidentiality, the distinction between public and private information and staff consultation.

a. Promotes awareness and adherence to appropriate guidelines regarding confidentiality, the distinction between public and private information and staff consultation.

b. Provides professional personnel with accurate, objective, concise and meaningful data necessary to adequately evaluate, counsel and assist the student.

c. If a student is receiving services from another counselor or other mental health professional, the counselor, with student and/or parent/guardian consent, will inform the other professional and develop clear agreements to avoid confusion and conflict for the student.

d. Is knowledgeable about release of information and parental rights in sharing information.

Reference American School Counselor Association (2005). //The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, Second Edition. //Alexandria, VA: Author.