Blog 11

         Dollarhide and Saginak start off the paragraph of moral and ethical decision making as follows;  "Ethical dilemmas are never easy, that's why they are called dilemmas", ( 2012, p. 37).  One of the most important things we can do as a school counselor is know the ASCA code of ethics and the laws and regulations we must follow. After reading both articles, I can appreciate why there are some ethical questions that need consideration and thought and then ones that must be acted upon immediately.
      The first ethical dilemma I am choosing to discuss is the first dilemma listed on Froelechle & Crews ( 2010). I would hope that if the nurse came to me and told me that a student had cut themselves and was distraught, regardless of what I was doing, my job at this point would be to focus my attention on that child. Immediately go down and talk to that child, attend to the wounds and then notify crisis intervention. This scenario goes hand in hand with the moral principle of Nonmaleficence or do no harm. Our obligation as school counselors are to ensure that the students are in a safe environment. That means being safe from others as well as any self harm that could be inflicted. The standard that this scenario goes with is ASCA- A.7: Danger to self and others. The counselor must inform the student of what is happening next as well as notifying parents/guardians of the student. As far as something personally challenging for me, the principle telling the nurse that the counselor was busy and could it wait was inconceivable. Something that I believe and that has been taught is the principle counselor relationship and the principle understanding the counselors role.
     The second ethical dilemma also comes from Froelechle & Crews; the student having a note from father with CPS's number on it as well as telling the child to tell the counselor that the mother s abusing the child. There is an ethical obligation to make sure that the child, number one, is safe, regardless of if the information is founded or not. The job of the counselor is to notify the correct individuals and then once notified that counselor can explain the situation. It is not the job of the counselor to determine weather or not the claims are true but to notify the necessary people. Something that would be challenging for me would be if I knew the parents situation and the father has been known to do this but, my job specifically states that I am a mandated reporter and must report all claims of abuse.
       The third dilemma that I chose to discuss is from the article by Romley ( 2012), where the counselor is counseling a student and notices some associations with suicidal thinking. Since the student has not come out and specifically stated that they are thinking of suicide or no other person has mentioned they were concerned, it would be right for the counselor to ask other professionals about the scenario. The counselor needs to make sure they have the best interest of the student in mind and that means not falsely accusing someone of something if they are unclear it is actually happening. Knowing how to get expert advice and opinions is important in making the right call that not only protects you but the students as well.
    I felt as thought Romley's ethical dilemmas were more challenging to me personally, because a lot of them had to do with decisions that we will be facing throughout or career and it is important to know where you are ethically and morally in regards to the laws and ethical standards set forth per the ASCA National Model.


Dollarhide, C.T., & Saginak, K.A. (2012). Comprehensive school counseling programs (2nd Ed.). New York: Pearson, Inc.

Froeschle & Crews, (2010). An ethics challenge for school counselors, p. 1-25.

Romley (2012). An ethics quiz for school counselors.