RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, ACCOUNTABILITIES, AND CODE OF ETHICS

Definitions
Goals
Scope
Core Values
Principles

A fabulous morning everyone. This is (name) (strand) (school). Today, we are going to talk about one of the
seven sections of the code of ethics- Confidentiality, and two of its sub-sections: Right to Privacy and Group
and Families. So let me ask you this:

 What pops up in your mind when you hear the word “confidentiality”?

CONDIDENTIALITY is the state of keeping or being kept secret or private.

In the code of Ethics, we have few things under confidentiality. Let’s tackle Right to privacy first.

1. RIGHT TO PRIVACY

Definitions:
What is “Right to Privacy”?
-It is the school counselors’ responsibility to fully respect the right to privacy of those with whom they
enter a counseling relationship and to provide an atmosphere of trust and confidence. In other words, the client
has someone whom he or she can accord trust for counseling services. Confidentiality supports public
confidence and trust in both counseling and the general healthcare services. It expresses mutual respect for the
client or patient, and the autonomy of the patient is guaranteed.

Goal
Right to Privacy goal: Protect the patient to make him feel safe
-The goal of “Right to privacy” in counseling is to protect the patient to make him feel safe. With this, the
counselor can assure that the process of counseling is going to be effective. Patients going through stressful life
changes, traumatic experiences or the emotional roller coaster ride of symptoms of mental illnesses may be
especially unwilling to share their most private feelings with a stranger unless they know that their secrets are
safe. That’s why confidentiality is so important to making counseling effective. A patient who doesn’t trust the
counselor is unlikely to be honest about his/her feelings and problems, so he or she may never receive the
necessary help to cope with these issues. Such a patient may be reluctant to really try any coping strategies or
treatments that are recommended. Ultimately, without trust, there is little point to attempting counseling.

Scope
1. Disclosure of Information
-Counselors respect a client’s right to privacy and avoid illegal and unwarranted disclosures of unwarranted
information.

2. Waived Information
-The right to privacy may be waived by the clients or their legally recognized representative.
3. Disclosure of Information to avoid imminent danger
-The general requirement that the counselors keep the information confidential does not apply when disclosure
is required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the client or others or when legal requirements demand that
confidential information be revealed

4. Disclosure of Information when the client has contagious disease

- Counselors who received information confirming that a client has a disease known to be communicable and
fatal is justified in disclosing information to an identifiable third party, who by his/her relationship with the
client is at high risk of contracting the disease.

5. Disclosure of Information ordered by the court

- When court orders the counselors to release confidential information without client’s permit, counselors
request to the court that the disclosure should not be required due to potential harm to client or counseling
relationship.

Core Values/Principles:
1. Compassion
Students who come to the Counseling Center are typically in some kind of emotional pain, distress or
confusion. In psychotherapy compassion is defined as connecting with the client's suffering and promoting
change through action.

2. Collaboration
Collaboration is applied in collaborative therapy session wherein the therapist and person in therapy
develop a partnership in which they talk with each other, not to each other. They may offer their own
suggestions or perspective, but they avoid imposing their own ideas on the individual in therapy.

3. Respect for Autonomy

The principle of respect for autonomy is usually associated with allowing or enabling patients to make
their own decisions about which health care interventions they will or will not receive.

4. Cultural Sensitivity
Culturally sensitive therapy emphasizes the therapist's understanding of a client's background,
ethnicity, and belief system. Therapists can incorporate cultural sensitivity into their work to accommodate and
respect differences in opinions, values, and attitudes of various cultures and different types of people

5. Confidentiality
The principle of confidentiality is about privacy and respecting someone's wishes. It means that
professionals shouldn't share personal details about someone with others, unless that person has said they can
or it's absolutely necessary.
2. GROUP AND FAMILIES

Definitions:
What is “Group and Family counseling”?
- Group and family counseling is a form of counseling where a small group of people meet regularly to
discuss, interact, and explore problems with each other and the group leader. Group and family counseling
seeks to give students and family members a safe and comfortable place on campus or at homes where they can
work out problems and emotional concerns.

Goal: Protect the clients’, counselors’, and agencies’ personal and professional reputation.
The goal of “Group and Families” confidentiality in counseling is to protect the clients’, counselors’,
and agencies’ personal and professional reputation. Confidentiality in group therapy is important because it
protects the clients, counselor, and the agency. It protects the client’s personal and professional reputation. It
also protects the counselor and any organization that counselor may be affiliated with. Confidentiality is an
essential part of the ground rules for group therapy; these rules should be firmly established within the group.
Unfortunately, there is no absolute guarantee of privacy when sharing with

Scope
1. Group Counseling
- In group work, counselors clearly define confidentiality and parameters for the specific group being entered,
explain its importance, and discuss difficulties related to confidentiality involved in group work.

2. Family Counseling
- In family counseling, information about one family cannot be disclosed to another member without
permission.

3. Counseling with Minors

- When counseling clients who are minors or individuals who are unable to give voluntary, informed consent,
parents or guardians may be included in the counseling process as appropriate.

Core Values/Principles: Since they are under the umbrella of confidentiality, they have the same
1. Compassion
- Students who come to the Counseling Center are typically in some kind of emotional pain,
distress or confusion. In psychotherapy compassion is defined as connecting with the client's suffering and
promoting change through action.

2. Collaboration
Collaboration is applied in collaborative therapy session wherein the therapist and person in therapy
develop a partnership in which they talk with each other, not to each other. They may offer their own
suggestions or perspective, but they avoid imposing their own ideas on the individual in therapy.

3. Respect for Autonomy

-The principle of respect for autonomy is usually associated with allowing or enabling patients to
make their own decisions about which health care interventions they will or will not receive.

4. Cultural Sensitivity
 Culturally sensitive therapy emphasizes the therapist's understanding of a client's background,
ethnicity, and belief system. Therapists can incorporate cultural sensitivity into their work to accommodate
and respect differences in opinions, values, and attitudes of various cultures and different types of people

5. Confidentiality
The principle of confidentiality is about privacy and respecting someone's wishes. It means that
professionals shouldn't share personal details about someone with others, unless that person has said they can
or it's absolutely necessary.

To encapsulate everything, confidentiality is really important in counseling. An excellent result will be

best achieved if the counselor makes the patient feel safe in terms of revealing his/her personal problems. In that
way, realistic information will be given by the patient paving the way to the formulation of the best solutions
and interventions to take.

I hope you have learned something from me today. Thank you and God bless everyone.