PROFESSIONAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Elizabeth Blair

This disclosure statement offers general information about my approach to counseling K-
12 students, my role as a counselor in the schools, how I use the American School Counselor
Association Ethical Standards and American Counseling Association Code of Ethics as a
guideline to my practice, and the meaning and limits of confidentiality in the school setting.
Please take a few minutes to read through this statement, and feel free to contact me with any
questions.

How I Work With Students
My vision in working with students is to explore the views they have of themselves,
others, and the world in which they live in. By exploring these views, it is my hope to work
together with the student to recognize new choices and opportunities for a meaningful
educational experience. I also believe in identifying and focusing on the strengths of the student,
with a solution-focused approach to support positive educational and personal/social
development.

My Role as a Counselor
My goal as a school counselor is to create and/or maintain an environment where students
and the school community feel safe, supported, and successful in their academic, and
personal/social growth. I want to work together with students, parents, teachers and
administrators to encourage student success in school, and to develop skills to become positive
and contributing members of society. My goal is also to be a culturally competent leader, and
advocate for social justice in the school system. This is in hope to create a safe, equitable, and
culturally knowledgeable environment through positive student behavior.

ASCA Ethical Standards and ACA Code of Ethics
The American School Counselor Association Ethical Standards and American
Counseling Association Code of Ethics were developed to provide a basic outline for
professional counseling. I would like to highlight some of the critical standards that will guide
my practice as a professional school counselor:
1). My primary obligation is to the student, who I will treat with respect as a unique
individual. I will also respect the students values and beliefs, and will not impose my own
personal values on them or their families (ASCA Ethical Standards, Section A.1.a & A.1.c).
2). I will encourage the greatest development of every student, and will be concerned
with their educational, academic, career, personal and social needs (ASCA Ethical Standards,
Section A.1.b).
3). I will practice only within the boundaries of my abilities, which is based off my
education, training, and appropriate professional experience (ACA Code of Ethics, Section
C.2.a).
4). I will provide parents/guardians with accurate, comprehensive, and relevant
information in an unbiased and caring manner, as is appropriate and consistent with ethical
responsibilities to the student (ASCA Ethical Standards, Section B.2.c).
PROFESSIONAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
5). I will be knowledgeable and supportive of the schools mission, and will support and
protect the educational program against any violation that is not in the students best interest
(ASCA Ethical Standards, Section D.1.A & D.1.c).

The Meaning and Limits of Confidentiality in Schools
Sessions between the counselor and the student will be kept confidential, meaning that
information revealed in a session will not be shared with any other person unless given
permission by the student. Confidentiality is important because students will discuss past and
present situations, as well as their innermost feelings and thoughts. Confidentiality is both an
ethical consideration, and an important part of building a trusting counselor/student relationship.
There are exceptions to confidentiality, and these include:
1). If one is a danger to themselves or others
2). If the information is court ordered
3). In the case of abuse
4). Disclosure of a communicable and/or life threatening disease, in which the identified
third party will be informed.
Even under these circumstances, only essential information will be shared, and as much
as possible the student will be informed before confidentiality is broken. Parents/legal guardians
may be included in the counseling process as appropriate, however measures will be taken to
maintain confidentiality, with the counselor always acting in the best interest of the student.
As a student counselor I will be receiving supervision to continually improve my
counseling skills, and any information shared during supervision will be discussed for
professional purposes only, and every effort will be made to protect the students identity

Contact Information
Email: blaire@seattleu.edu




















PROFESSIONAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
References
American Counseling Association. (2005) ACA code of ethics.
American School Counselor Association. (2005). Ethical standards for school counselors