One of the most important School Counseling Tools: A Professional Disclosure Statement

 

As school counselors we have an ethical obligation to inform students of the purposes, goals, techniques, rules and procedures under which they may receive counseling. Disclosure includes informed consent and clarification of the limits of confidentiality. 

It is important to explain the limits of confidentiality in developmentally appropriate terms through multiple methods, such as student handbooks; classroom lessons; verbal notification to individual students; and school counseling department websites, brochures and social media accounts. 

One of my favorite best practices around this ethical obligation is to create and share my Professional Disclosure Statement each year.

Do you have a professional disclosure statement that your share with students and parents? Share your tips on how I can improve mine.