https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll Leticia Malena EDG6305 en-us 2018-06-07 05:06:25 UTC 2025-11-07 23:57:52 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Manbag.png lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266026151 I am in the process of completing my Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling. Once I graduate, I would like to become an elementary or high school guidance counselor and eventually a college academic advisor.]]> 2018-06-07 05:12:16 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266026151 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266026225 Inside Higher Ed
This post briefly discusses a study conducted by Yale University. The study focused on the increase of complaints regarding gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the education field. It states that there is gender discrimination in college entrances and classes but there is also an equal rise in the areas of athletics and harassment (Whitford, 2018).]]> 2018-06-07 05:13:02 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266026225 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266026301 As I utilized the Angelo State University library for research topics on law and ethics in the area of Guidance and Counseling, I encountered this journal article which involves a dilemma that counselors face on a daily basis.  The article discusses the legal and ethic issues counselors face regarding confidentiality.  A study was conducted involving 627 counselors from the elementary to the high school setting.  The authors gave a questionnaire to each counselor regarding what factors would cause them to breach confidentiality with a student.  At the end of the article, the results of the study indicated that under certain circumstances, the counselors would breach confidentiality involving a student and informing a parent.  There were several court cases mentioned where confidentiality must be reached or broken (Isaacs & Stone, 1999). 


]]> 2018-06-07 05:14:02 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266026301 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266176711 After researching several legal and ethical issues that school counselors face, I chose confidentiality and the factors that affect it. This topic interests me because confidentiality is constantly being questioned as to when confidentiality should be broken and/or parents should be informed. 
I would like to further explore court cases where confidentiality between a school counselor and student was a problem, the factors affecting the situation, and the outcome of that court case.]]> 2018-06-07 18:33:55 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266176711 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266180266 While researching this topic, I found a website that is specifically for school counselors which is the American School Counselor Association or ASCA.  This website provides all different types of information for school counselors in all areas.  It explains the ethical values counselors must follow and information if there are concerns.  
I also found another helpful website, Confident Counselors, which consists of various blogs about that topic.  When you click on the link it will take you to another website that further explains tips when you have questions or concerns about confidentiality. ]]> 2018-06-07 18:54:17 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266180266 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266184714 2018-06-07 19:25:34 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266184714 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266184971 I utilized the ASU RAM library Usearch tool to find articles regarding school counselors and confidentiality. I had previously discussed one very interesting article but also found another article that focused on confidentiality, ethics, and the school counselor. This article also includes scenarios regarding a certain confidentiality situation and how ASCA explains to ethically solve it.

]]> 2018-06-07 19:27:33 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266184971 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266194889 Student confidentiality during counseling sessions is a vital factor in building a counseling relationship.  School counselors continuously face situations where they must decide whether a breach of confidentiality is warranted.  A counselor must decide if certain factors warrant a reason to breach confidentiality if student harm is visible.  A counselor must be aware of different legalities and ethical guidelines if he/she is presented in a situation where a breech of confidentiality is questionable.

There are some legal or ethical issues related to student confidentiality.  When a student has the intent to harm someone, a breach of confidentiality can be defended unless student anonymity is broken.  In this case, a federal law is violated and the Family Educational Records Protection Act [FERPA] can be utilized. FERPA protects the student's records since the beginning of their education and continues until they graduate.  Also, counselors face ethical decisions of breaching a student's confidentiality where certain factors are discussed in a counseling session.  There are many court cases found that relate to cases where confidentiality is questioned and the decisions of these cases are continuously changing the responsibility of the counselor (Myer & Baxter-MacGregor, 2010).

Becoming a school counselor is a goal I have been working towards for several years. As I progress towards my goal, several situations or scenarios may arise regarding confidentiality that I may have to face and make an ethical decision. Some scenarios that I may encounter if I were to be hired as a middle or high school counselor would be drug use, sex, or abortion. These are situations where if parents are informed their reaction can be negative. If I were to be hired as an elementary school counselor there may be scenarios involving bullying or child abuse and this may be an ethical/legal issue involving parents.]]> 2018-06-07 20:54:15 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266194889 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266230601 Isaacs, M.L. & Stone, C. (1999).  School counselors and confidentiality: factors affecting professional choices.  Professional School Counseling, Vol 2(4) p. 258-266

Iyer, N. & Baxter-MacGregor, J. (2010).  Ethical dilemmas for the school      counselor: balancing students' confidentiality and parents' right to know.  Retrieved from https://opencommons.uconn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1017&context=nera_2010

Whitford, E. (2018).  Title IX complaints spiked over 2 decades.  Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2018/06/05/title-ix-complaints-spiked-over-2-decades]]> 2018-06-08 03:45:44 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266230601 lmalena https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266362439 I interviewed Jessica Martinez, a middle school counselor from Young Women's Leadership Academy in Grand Prairie, Texas. She was very helpful and provided me with valuable information regarding ethical situations that occur in the school counseling profession.
Question #1:
Current legal issues that are impacting the school counseling profession are various types of abuse outcries and how to legally and ethically manage these situations. Another legal issue is the precision of note-taking that is utilized during a counseling session. This is very important legally because if for some reason the notes need to be subpoenaed, the courts will look at the accuracy of the notes.
Another legal issue is the protection of confidentiality when a counselor communicates a problematic situation to Child Protective Services [CPS]. The anonymity is vital and a counselor needs to be cautious as to follow the legal and ethical procedures in these situations.
Question #2:
The legal requirements and compliance issues that a counselor must be attentive to are precise note taking during a counseling session and updating any 504 cases when emotional issues are involved.
Question #3:
One policy or rule that Mrs. Martinez had to review, due to a legal or ethical issue, was when CPS requested notes on a case and she became aware of the importance of the accuracy of the notes she had taken.
Question #4:
Mrs. Martinez discussed the type of training she has received, as a counselor, which focuses on legal or ethical issues. Some of the topics focused on being trained on victims of crime which was given by the Grand Prairie Police department and also being trained on the guidelines on the type of resources that a student or family can receive.
Question #5:
Mrs. Martinez stated that to stay current on legal issues in the field of guidance counseling she has a subscription to the ASCA journal, attends various district training, and the director of the counseling department sends updates. 

(J. Martinez, personal communication, June 6, 2018).]]> 2018-06-08 19:29:14 UTC https://padlet.com/lmalena/2f54n5yfwoll/wish/266362439