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Let’s face it - being a school counsellor is tougher than it seems to be. Although many school counsellors go to the institution so they can help students, it can be hard to know what initiatives are the right ones to take when dealing with a horde of problems. So, how to find your way through this maze of challenges as a school counsellor?

School counsellors need to always be aware of the ethical standards in their work, and the ways to address ethical issues in the practice of counselling. Any type of counselling profession involves ethics, but the fact that school counsellors work with minors during crucial stages in their emotional and mental development makes it even more imperative to be mindful of the ethical standards.

Ethical issues in the field of school counselling practice can turn out to be multifaceted. The American School Counsellor Association (ASCA) provides a detailed explanation of ethical standards on its website. The school counsellor’s code of ethics explores a list of ethical issues in counselling that school counsellors might face.

1. Confidentiality and its Limits
    

   School counsellors require developing trusting relationships with their learners and a comprehension of confidentiality in terms of communications and discussions which help build that trust. However, school counsellors are sometimes compelled to break that confidentiality under certain circumstances where the law or professional ethics require them to do so.

   They may also require breaching confidentiality to parents or any other apt third parties in cases where it would eventually be in the best interests of the learner or when they are required to do so by law. For instance, a school counsellor’s ethics will be challenged if a student is threatening to engage in self-harm. In such a situation, a counsellor may have to act in adherence to ethical codes by alerting the parents, concerned authorities and/or getting medical help. Apart from building that relation of trust with students, a counsellor often requires to establish professional communication with parents, teachers, and school administrators.

   School counsellors can use informed consent to set proper guidelines with their learners. They can deliberate their legal and ethical obligations and assist the student and their parents understand the limits of confidentiality in their relationship.

2. Maintain a Professional Distance
    

   School counsellors’ relationship with their learners must always remain within the context of their professional abilities. Since the students are minors and not always understanding relationship boundaries, the responsibility is on the counsellors to act in a professional manner, and explaining those boundaries where necessary is vital according to a school counsellor code of ethics.

   Irrespective of whether it is illegal according to state law and/or the student’s age, romantic relations with students are a serious breach of ethics for school counsellors.

3. Respect Cultural Values and Traditional Differences
   
   A progressively diverse U.S. population equals an increasingly diverse number of students. A school counsellor’s code of ethics should embrace the needs of diverse students from varied cultural backgrounds. This implies that school counsellors must be aware of their own cultural biases and values to avoid imposing the same on their students. They need to cultivate an understanding of the ways social and economic inequalities, gender, cultural and racial biases effect learners and their families.
    
4. Ensure Equal Access to Opportunities and Support
   
   School counsellors should ensure equal access to the required counselling services to each student under their charge. This can become an ethics challenge for some school counsellors. Some learners will require more attention, but counsellors should not have any biasness among students that will prevent them from serving students at their level of need.
    
5. Be Aware of Dual Relationships
    

   School counsellors need to be aware of relationships that could compromise their aim and mar their ability to serve students fairly - like counselling kids of close friends or romantic partners. General ethical standards for school counsellors would advise that, if possible, this situation is to be avoided. If these closer connections are unavoidable, counsellors need to take extra steps to sustain their objectivity.

   Their work being documented or even agreeing to supervision are two ethical scenarios in counselling where a counsellor can take necessary steps.

Final thoughts:

Preparing for a successful career in guiding diverse learners, calls for an inclusive understanding of ethical issues in school counselling practice. The online diploma in child counselling course for teachers at Asian College of Teachers assimilates and boosts the highest levels of professionalism and ethics through its curriculum and the experiences of its expert faculty members.