Confidentiality

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Position Professional school counselors recognize their primary obligation for confidentiality is to the student but balance that obligation with an understanding of the legal and inherent rights of parents or guardians to be the guiding voice in their children’s lives.

Confidentiality is an important policy when counseling. Although I am not a counselor, I am a peer mediator and we have to keep everything that goes on during the mediation TOP SECRET. Any notes we write have to be thrown away. If you are going to someone to talk to and to get OPTIONS (NOT ADVICE) from, you want to make sure that your business is only between you & your guidance counselor. This privacy policy encourages students to open up to counselors because they will not be fearful about spilling their guts to someone who is going to tell. There are a few exceptions to this policy - if a student is at risk by harming themselves or others. Relationships are very important to build and without trust, there is no relationship.