School Counselors & Confidentiality

While it is important that a student’s conversations with a school counselor be kept confidential, confidentiality does have its limitations. According to the American School Counselor Association’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors, counselors must “keep information confidential unless legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed or a breach is required to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to the student” (American School Counselor Association [ASCA], 2010).

The most frequent type of breaches include a student verbalizing the following:

1)      Verbal, Physical or Sexual Abuse

2)      Neglect

3)      A desire to harm him/herself

4)      A desire to harm someone else

5)      An unreported sexual assault

Before information may be released to a 3rd party, a release of information form must be obtained. Click Here for a copy of the AISD Release of Information.

Reference:  American School Counselor Association. Ethical Standards for School Counselors. American School Counselor Association, n.d. Web. 19 March 2013. <http://www.counselors.k12.sd.us/ethics.html>

Boyd Counseling Mission Statement

Boyd's School Counseling program helps our students to identify and embrace their unique individuality. Each is guided toward growth in collaboration for academics, social, emotional and learning. By partnering with teachers, parents, and members of the community, maintaining high expectations and using active curriculum, students will gain the skills and knowledge to become successful, productive, life-long learners, and members of their community.