Internship Confidentiality Agreement

M.Ed. in SchoolCounseling

Internship Confidentiality Agreement

Instructions to Student:Read the statement below and sign the nextpage. Submit the signedoriginal formto your sitesupervisor and submit a copy to youruniversity supervisor.

Confidentiality

The professional responsibilityofa counselor is to fullyrespect therightto privacyofthosewithwhom theyenter counselingrelationships.Counselors(andstudentsenrolled in counselingprograms) must keepabreast of andadhere to alllaws,policiesandethicalstandardspertainingto confidentiality.This confidentialitymust not be abridgedbythecounselor exceptwhen thereis clear andpresent dangertothe clientand/or other persons.

The Rationale

Confidentialityis anethicalterm denotingacounselingpracticerelevant to privacy.Privilegedcommunication is a legaltermdenoting a requirement to protect theprivacybetween counselorandstudent.

A studenthas the right to privacyandconfidentiality.ASCA recognizes that a counselingrelationshiprequiresanatmosphere of trustandconfidence between the studentand thecounselor.Confidentialityensuresthatdisclosureswill not be divulged to others exceptwhenauthorizedbythe studentor when thereis a clearandpresentdanger to thestudentand/or toother persons.

ASCA membersaffirm their belief in the individual's worth anddignity.Itis the professionalresponsibilityof schoolcounselors to fullyrespectthe right to privacyofthose withwhom theyenter counselingrelationships.

The ProfessionalSchoolCounselor'sRole

Counselorshave aresponsibilityto protect the privilegedinformationreceivedthroughconfidentialrelationshipswithstudents, the students’ parents orguardians and withstaff.Theprofessionalschool counselor reserves theright toconsultwithother professionallycompetentpersonswhen this is in the student's best interest.In the event ofpossiblejudicial proceedings,the professionalschool counselorshould initiallyadvise the schooladministrationand thecounselee,and if necessary,consultwithlegal counsel.If reportsarerequired, everyeffortshould be made to limit demandsfor information to those mattersessentialfor the purpose ofthelegalproceedings. When a professionalcounseloris in doubt aboutwhat to release in a judicialproceeding, theprofessional schoolcounselor should arrange aconferencewith the judge toexplain the dilemma andgetadviceas to howto proceed. Counselinginformationused inresearchandcounselor trainingshould fullyguarantee counselees'anonymity.

It is the counselor's responsibilityto provide noticeto studentsregardingthepossiblenecessityfor consultingwith others. Thisconfidentialitymust not be abridgedbythe professional schoolcounselor exceptwhere thereis aclearand present danger to the student and/orto other persons.

The professionalschoolcounselor andstudent should be providedwithadequate physicalfacilities to guarantee theconfidentialityofthe counselingrelationship.With the enactment oftheFamilyEducationalRightsand PrivacyAct, P.L.93-380 (TheBuckleyAmendment),greatcare should be takenwithrecordedinformation. All professionalschoolcounselors should have acopyofthe complete law. Professionalschoolcounselors must adhere to P.L.93-380; theymustbe concernedaboutindividualswhohave accesstoconfidentialinformation.It should beeachschool's policytoguarantee adequate workingspace for secretaries so thatstudentsandschoolpersonnelwill not come into contactwithconfidentialinformation,eveninadvertently.

Professionalschoolcounselors should undertakeaperiodic review of informationrequested oftheir students. Onlyrelevant information should be retained.Professional school counselorswilladhere toethical standards andlocalpolicies in relatingstudentinformationover the telephone.Theyhavea responsibilityto encourage schooladministrators to developwrittenpoliciesconcerningtheethical and legalhandlingof allrecords in their schoolsystem.The developmentof additionalguidelinesrelevant to the local situation is encouraged.Finally,it is stronglyrecommended that state and localcounselorassociationsimplementthese principlesandguidelinesthroughappropriate legislation.

Professionalschoolcounselors should be aware that it is muchmore difficult to guaranteeconfidentialityingroupcounselingthan in individualcounseling. Communications made in goodfaith maybe classifiedasprivilegedbythe courts,and the communicatingpartieswill beprotectedbylawagainstlegalaction seekingdamagesfor libel or slander.Generally, it maybesaidthatanoccasion ofthis particular privilegeariseswhen oneacts in thebona fide dischargeofapublicorprivate duty.Thisprivilege maybe abused orlost bymalice,improper andunjustifiedmotive,badfaith or excessive publication.

Summary

Acounselingrelationshiprequiresanatmosphereof trustandconfidence betweenstudentandcounselor. A studenthasthe right to privacyandconfidentiality.Theresponsibilityto protectconfidentialityextends tothe student'sparent orguardianand staffin confidentialrelationships.Professionalschoolcounselors must adhere to P.L. 93-380.

Ihave read theASCA Position Statement on Confidentialityandagree toabidebytheseguidelines to maintain confidentialityduringthe performance ofmyinternship responsibilities.

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