Summarizing the Professional School Counselor, Article Review Example

“The Professional School Counselor” looks at the issues albeit ethical or cultural that impact school counselors and school psychologists that work with minors. The matter of confidentiality and creating delicate relations with minors, is essential when having to take accountability within the public organizations. The laws that are established now, created confusing and contradictory behaviors when dealing with the ethical principles of the professional practice. There is an obligation for professionals to help students through their personal and social issues, and other problems with students. There is a conflict of state laws and federal laws about the rights of parents and the educational information that is allowed for students. In school, students go through several problems that include suicide, cyberbullying, harassing behaviors, and other problems with bullying. The ASCA reported that in 2009, the caseloads that school counselors can have is around 457 students per counselor. (Welfel, 2012) There is a vast difference in communication between professional counselors and those that are employed in the schools. The open communication is a problem when counselors try to juggle the responsibility of the client-parent knowledge, and the fostering the student-counselor relationship.

There are several situations where these conflicts clash with counselors. In the case of Reggie, who was a 5^th grade student that behavior deteriorated over the last two months. He would not participate in class, and referred to the school counselor. He informs that his mother was diagnosed with HIV, and she abusing drugs when she was pregnant with him. Reggie is angry, the counselor is caught between informing the school about the problems including exposing the mother’s diagnosis, and communication to the school. In this case, as the chapter points out is that the legal and ethical standards are provided, that the counselor must abide by their rules.  This is true because, Reggie is in no immediate danger, nor is him or his mother a threat to anyone. The ethical guide, allows for parent/guardian confidentiality.  That the counselor needs to disclosed to the principal and the teacher, so they are aware of the requirements and limitations on discussing the counseling session. In order to avoid these problems in the future, the counselor must educate the staff on the ethical standards to avoid conflict.  The counselor should communicate that a member of the family has a chronic disease, and find a balance with disclosing information to the principal, and teachers.

In Gloria’s case, she is a shy student whose mother was killed in a bank robbery, and her father is possibly having psychological problems. However, the teachers are discussing the problems of the student during a lunchroom conversation, as the counselor takes a seat at the table, and asked her opinion. In deciding the ethical standards, the counselor is not within acceptable ethical standards, if the counselor were to offer her professional opinion, because they are not in a professional setting. The lunchroom serves as a place of gossip, interacting with teachers who are not familiar with the student, and cannot offer any valuable options to help the student. Welfel puts, “for the counselor to participate in any such discussion would demean those individuals and would not bring credit to the counselor or to its discussion.” (Welfel, 2012) As the professional, they must supersede their human desire to discuss situations, by their professional obligations where there can be ethical and legal consequences. The counselor can offer up her services to the student, but also walk a thin line in order to not cross any legal or ethical ramifications that involve the parents. The counselors in all situations must use prudent judgment hen want to conduct consultations, and trying to abstain from breaking confidentiality. (Welfel, 2012) In order to avoid confusing and conflict, the school must be aware of the ethical standards and laws that govern school counselors.

References

Welfel, Elizabeth. (2012). Ethics in Counseling & Psychotherapy.5^th Edition.  Cengage Learning. California.