I strongly adhere to the Ethical Standards for School Counselors implemented by the Governing Board of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Also, it is significant to apply the best ethical strategies to the given scenario. The scenario itself is a challenging one and I believe that appropriate ethical codes should be applied to the issue. In summary, the ethical challenges are malice, attitudes and beliefs, confidentiality, and decision-making.
I would start in the event wherein the student discloses that he is gay and a football player is not supposed to be gay. A counselor should always be cautious enough regarding the issue and offers several possible safeguards as a responsibility to take action to keep the potential for harm at a minimum. The counselor has a point saying the possibilities of being kicked off of the team, other students might ridicule him when they find out, or just an identity crisis. However, saying that being gay will ruin John’s life and most people dislike gays is against the ethical standards. Accordingly, a counselor acts in the best interests of the student always and in good faith and in the absence of meanness. At some point, the fact that being gay is against the counselor’s belief, but still the counselor should consider the preference of the student being gay. I believe that John undergoes different stages of uncertainties upon disclosing his situation.
When the counselor decides to meet John on a weekly basis helping him “change his ways” is a fight or flight status to John’s part. Possibly, John would consider allowing himself to change for the sake of being a football player and avoid ridicule from others. On the other hand, it would be difficult for John to change because the disclosure is simply a confirmation and an affirmation of his true identity. Then again, the feeling of the counselor that her decision is the best interest of the student contradicts the ethical strategies for school counselors. It is clearly stated that a counselor has the increased awareness of the personal values, attitudes and beliefs; it refers when personal characteristics hinder effectiveness. It is a mere significance to actively understand the diverse cultural and behavioral backgrounds of the student and its impact on the values and beliefs of the counseling process.
The attempt of the counselor to let John come to church to hear the pastor discussing being gay does not go along with the theoretical rationale that binds the counseling strategies and interventions, especially in the school setting. It is important that the decision-making is devised with the rationale implemented in the ASCA; the decision-making model under the review relevant to the ethical guidelines of the school and what is the best course of action needed. Moreover, saying that the intervention in going to the church is not an assurance, in my opinion, is not the right way to say it. Spirituality is one way to help an individual discerns and to decide, yet, spiritual belief should come first with John’s decision and his family. In the ethical strategy, it states that it is useful to encourage family involvement when working with minors in sensitive areas that might be controversial. It implies that a counselor should utilize proper evaluation data in planning intervention and with the best interest of the client.
In confiding with a colleague is necessary, however, confiding with an upset feeling is a different story. At some point, the counselor has the right to feel sad about because she believes in the potential of John to become successful based on his grades and personality. However, upon knowing that he is gay has changed her view. I suggest that the counselor needs to read and adhere to the ethical standards of her profession. As stated in the ASCA that a counselor should review the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors periodically and act accordingly. Confidentiality is necessary and consultation with the other professional such as colleagues and the professional association ethics committee is allowable and an official matter. Additionally, as I mentioned above that family involvement is encouraged, especially in sensitive areas with controversial matters.
Reference
Huey, W. C. (1992). The Revised 1992 Ethical Standards for School Counselors. School
Counselor, 40 (2), 89.
