Informed Consent Pertaining to the Professional School Counselors

The professional school counselor will keep information confidential, with some exceptions:

These exceptions are:

• someone is suspected to be hurting a student 

• (there is a reason to suspect the occurrence of child abuse or neglect)

• student expresses wanting to hurt himself/herself or others

• (where there is a clear threat to do serious bodily harm to self or others)

• student gives permission to share with another trusting adult

• legal authorities intervene with a court order

The professional school counselor is legally obligated to share information shared by the student that relates to one of the above circumstances to appropriate parties. Information may be shared with parents/guardians, the student’s teacher, and/or administrators or school personnel who work with the student on a need-to-know basis to ensure we may support the student as a team. The counselor is legally obligated to share information when requested by the court system.

If you would like more information shared with a third party, such as a community counselor, psychiatrist, social services worker, or pediatrician, a signed release of information form is needed from the third party.