Confidentiality and Mandated Reporting

School counselors are mandated reporters and abide by a code of ethics via the American School Counseling Association (ASCA).  According to ASCA, counselors must:

"Keep information confidential unless legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed or a breach is required to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to the student."

Additionally, ASCA states that counselors must also:

"Report to parents/guardians and/or appropriate authorities when students disclose a perpetrated or a perceived threat to their physical or mental well-being. This threat may include, but
is not limited to, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, dating violence, bullying or sexual harassment. The school counselor follows applicable federal, state and local laws and school
district policy."

Suicidal ideations/attempts, self harm, and homicidal ideations also apply to the aformentioned statements; therefore, counselors follow GCPS protocol accordingly.