Part II - Students Who Self-Injure: School Counselor Ethical and Legal Considerations
In this article the authors discuss students who self-injure, and the ethical and legal considerations school counselors must take into consideration when addressing this population. Most at risk according to the authors are students who are adolescents. The authors suggest early intervention and training of school counselors to recognize signs and symptoms of self-injury may lead to better response and action to protect children from harm.
The authors do a good job of describing various forms of self-injury including self-cutting, and explain the purposes self-injury has on students. The primary point the authors attempt to make is that school counselors are in an ideal position to help students and intervene. However the authors also note that counselors are ethically obliged to keep information they may have about at risk student confidential, unless disclosure is needed to protect the counselor or peers, friends or family...
The underlying message present however, is that students might be better served if counselors could disseminate this information more liberally, in an effort to protect students without crossing any ethical or moral obligations they have to protect student's privacy.
I feel while it is important to protect student's privacy, school counselors should be trained to assess when intervention is more important than withholding information. Early intervention may be the key to saving may children's lives. This article presents a conundrum for both counselors and family members eager to intervene and assist at-risk youth, but also protect their rights to privacy and security.
References
Kress, V.E. & Drouhard, N. (2006, Dec). Students who self-injure: School counselor ethical and legal considerations. ASCA, 10(2)
Nicholson, J.I. & Pearson, Q.M. (2003, Oct). Helping children cope with fears: Using children's literature in classroom guidance. ASCA, 7(1)
Children Fears
