Ethical Standards
A1 section “Supporting Student Development” of the ASCA Ethical Standards for school counselors has undergone drastic changes. The proposed alterations are meaningful in a way that they invoke counselors to affirm and foster students, their identity, and psychosocial condition. It is especially vital in the modern world because each person is willing to be accepted and expects their feelings to be validated. I especially agree with the idea of being culturally aware since the world is experiencing globalization, thereby making people deal with diverse cultures and their representatives. I also liked that the new version of the ethical standards calls to acknowledge not only the indispensable role of parents, guardians, and families but also tribal communities, which emphasizes diversity and inclusion. In addition, the new ethical standards suggest expressing concern towards a student’s academic, social, emotional, and other needs to boost their development (“ASCA Ethical Standards,” 2022). This part is beneficial in terms of increasing one’s emotional, physical, and academic potential.
The major ethical dilemma
The major ethical dilemma that concerns me relates to confidentiality. In case a school principal or administration member requests information about a student that I counsel, the dilemma would arise: provide them with personal data to solve the issue or keep it private. As per the ASCA Ethical Standards, a school counselor can disclose a student’s information in case their behavior threatens other people. However, the school counselor should primarily consult with a specialist that can help validate the decision. In other non-threatening cases, disclosure of one’s private data is prohibited because it breaches the confidentiality principle. As a result, the ethical standards can help solve any dilemma efficiently because its statements are applicable to almost every situation.
Reference
ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. (2022). American School Counselor Association. Web.