Confidentiality dilemmas for counsellors in schools

Abstract

This study aimed to explore how counsellors working in schools deal with their day to day confidentiality dilemmas, and how they process them in order to take an ethical decision in the best interest of the school aged student. One focus group with seven participants who were counsellors, educational psychologists and professionals in ethics and five individual semi-structured interviews with counsellors working in schools have been conducted. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Three superordinate themes emerged, namely: ethical and legal factors in therapeutic counselling with school aged children, challenges to confidentiality and ethical decision making aspects for tackling confidentiality dilemmas in schools. Findings suggest that the client’s best interest and autonomy have to be central in the decision making process. The evidence suggests that all decisions depend on the professional judgement of the counsellor who is challenged with a confidentiality dilemma. Regardless of the severity and sensitivity of the confidentiality dilemma, counsellors are the ones who have to weigh out all the competing factors in order to take an ethical decision. Skills such as negotiating with the client and timing the intervention have also emerged. Another finding that emerged was the significant impact social visibility here in Malta has on the counsellor who has to strike a balance between all the factors that come into play when taking a decision. Recommendations for future research and implications for counselling have been discussed.