Maintaining a safe space when counseling, enabling the student to ensure they can safely confide in you, is essential when assisting a student. Confidentiality in counseling gives the student an open dialogue, knowing the therapist would repeat what was said outside of their conversation. Retaining anonymity within specific limits is an ethical responsibility of the counselor, and it is part of what distinguishes therapy from other interactions. Yet, gaining the students' trust is imperative in assisting with the situation and other issues that may involve them directly in the future. However, students should be reminded that there are exceptions to confidentiality in which school counselors must disclose other information received in the counseling relationship to prevent substantial and predictable harm to students or others, or if it is legally required. Some options that might be available to address the situation include talking to the student again to see if he is willing to reveal more information, or asking does the student mind if we talk to the teacher's daughter to see if she is ready to talk about what happened and contacting the school administration to report the situation. it is essential to consider the student's best interest when deciding whether to act. There are several restrictions to confidentiality in therapy, and there may be times when a therapist must break confidentiality due to a legal responsibility or an individual or organizational policy need. The counselor and the student must be informed of situations where confidentiality may be violated.

The empirical research, theoretical models, and ethical standards presented in the assigned resources suggest the importance of applying ethical decision-making strategies to scenarios such as these. Specifically, the research indicates that counselors must protect their clients' confidentiality and act in their best interest. Thoughtful and influential counselors recognize the importance of developing a bond of trust and respect with students. As a school counselor in a counseling relationship with a student has an ethical and legal obligation to keep the material within that connection confidential. Students' counseling relationships with their school counselors require an atmosphere of trust and confidence. Students must have faith in the school counselor to engage in meaningful and honest communication with the school counselor.

• Ethical Decision MakingLinks to an external site.
• The Difference Between Deductive and Inductive ReasoningLinks to an external site.
• ASCA ethical standards for school counselorsLinks to an external site.
• To Tell or Not to Tell: The Fine Line Between Minors' Privacy and Others' Right to KnowLinks to an external site.

Play the expert in the following scenario and apply ethical decision-making to your rationale and actions. Be mindful of section F in theASCA ethical standards for school counselorsLinks to an external site.(p. 8):

When faced with an ethical dilemma, school counselors and school counseling program directors/supervisors use an ethical decision-making model such as Solutions to Ethical Problems in Schools (STEPS) (Stone, 2001):

1. 1. Define the problem emotionally and intellectually
   2. Apply the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors and the law
   3. Consider the students' chronological and developmental levels
   4. Consider the setting, parental rights and minors' rights
   5. Apply the ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, nonmaleficence, loyalty and justice
   6. Determine potential courses of action and their consequences
   7. Evaluate the selected action
   8. Consult
   9. Implement the course of action

You are a school counselor at a rural high school. You have been counseling a student, and he confided in you that one of his friends has recently engaged in sexual relations with one of the teacher's daughters. (She is a friend of yours.) He does not divulge the name of the other student and refuses to talk any further about the issue.

Address the following:

1. What ethical considerations must be considered in this situation?
2. How does confidentiality affect your considerations and actions?
3. What options might you have to address the situation?
4. Ethically, since this is hearsay, are you legally obligated to address?
5. Using appropriate citations and references, explain how the empirical research, theoretical models, and ethical standards presented in the assigned resources suggest the importance of applying ethical decision-making strategies to scenarios such as these.