\u201cPlease, don\u2019t tell my parents!\u201d I have heard this phrase many times and, often I just need to reassure the student that my lips are sealed. Other times, a conflict arises. In the heat of the moment, I am face with \u201cI trusted you!\u201d because ethically and legally I need to disclose the information to a third party.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As counsellors, trust becomes our ally in the therapeutic process. It is an important indicator of a strong relationship and helps to foster, among other things, the healing process.\u00a0 The promise of confidentiality, I am convinced, helps me in gaining students\u2019 trust. I have learned over the years to insure that students understand the realm of confidentiality. I try to hold ongoing discussions as to how, when, and with whom information is to be shared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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I have also realized that parent need to be informed as much, if not more, than the student himself, especially if it is the parent who refers the student to my office. Parents seem to understand the concept of confidentiality and yet I always get that phone call: \u201cSo, what did he say\u2026? \u00a0The dialogue does not cease. I understand this is coming from a heartfelt concern, rather than an inquisitiveness, nevertheless as the student\u2019s counselor I am ethically bound to silence. I make a choice of not divulging information unless otherwise indicated by the student.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Confidentiality is relative rather than absolute in any counseling relationship setting. \u00a0All counselors know that in certain circumstances we are legally bound to disclose information but in school settings, dealing with minors, I found myself facing ethical dilemmas more often than legal dilemmas. \u00a0A few students have told me: \u201cdecisions making can be difficult \u201d Yes, they are. I do not have definite answers at all time. This is when I rely on my training, my instincts, and my heart and envision how my decision will impact the student\u2019s life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cPlease, don\u2019t tell my parents!\u201d I have heard this phrase many times and, often I just need to reassure the student that my lips are sealed. Other times, a conflict arises. In the heat of the moment, I am face with \u201cI trusted you!\u201d because ethically and legally I need to disclose the information to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1001052,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[526,76],"class_list":["post-5409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-schoolcounselling","tag-confidentiality","tag-decision-making"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n