Using a purposeful, convenience sampling method, we explored six school counselors’ experiences of ethical decision making. We used a transcendental phenomenology research method and identified the themes of consulting, referring to ethical guidelines, documenting, contributing factors, and engaging in professional development. This article discusses implications for school counselor preparation programs and practicing school counselors.
American School Counselor Association. (2019a). ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs (4th ed.). American School Counseling Association.
BainS. F. (2012). School counselors: A review of contemporary issues. Research in Higher Education Journal, 18, 1–7.
6.
BodenhornN. (2006). Exploratory study of common challenging ethical dilemmas experienced by professional school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 10(2), 195–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X0601000203
7.
BrownT.ArmstrongS. A.BoreS.SimpsonC. (2017). Using an ethical decision-making model to address ethical dilemmas in school counseling. Journal of School Counseling, 15(13). http://www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v15n13.pdf
8.
BryantJ. K.BaldwinP. A. (2010). School counsellors’ perceptions of mandatory reporter training and mandatory reporting experiences. Child Abuse Review, 19(3), 172–186. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.1099
9.
ByrdR.HaysD. G. (2013). Evaluating a safe space training for school counselors and trainees using a randomized control group design. Professional School Counseling, 17(1), 20–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X0001700103
10.
CarrC. V.GalassiJ. P. (2012). The role school counselors believe they should adopt in dropout prevention. Journal of School Counseling, 10(1). http://www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v10n1.pdf
GilbrideD. G.GoodrichK. M.LukeM. (2016). The professional peer membership of school counselors and the resources used within their decision-making. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 8(2), 52–69. https://repository.wcsu.edu/jcps/vol8/iss2/4
15.
GriffinD.GalassiJ. P. (2010). Parent perceptions of barriers to academic success in a rural middle school. Professional School Counseling, 14(1), 87–100. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X1001400109
HaysD. G.SinghA. (2012). Qualitative inquiry in clinical and education settings. Guilford.
18.
King-WhiteD.KurtL.SeckM. (2019). A qualitative study of online school counselors’ ethical practices in K-12 schools. Journal of Ethical Practice, 10(11), 40–58. https://doi.org/10.22229/aqs1012019
19.
LevittD. H.TiernayF. J.MazzarellaJ. R. (2015). Counselor ethical reasoning: Decision-making practices versus theory. Counseling and Values, 60(1), 84–99. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-007X.2015.00062.x
20.
LukeM.GoodrichK. M.GilbrideD. D. (2013a). Intercultural model of ethical decision making: Addressing worldview dilemmas in school counseling. Counseling and Values, 58(2), 177–194. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-007X.2013.00032.x
21.
LukeM.GoodrichK. M.GilbrideD. D. (2013b). Testing the intercultural model of ethical decision making with counselor trainees. Counselor Education and Supervision, 52(3), 222–234. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6978.2013.00039.x
22.
Moerer-UrdahlT.CreswellJ. (2004). Using transcendental phenomenology to explore the “ripple effect” in a leadership mentoring program. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 3(2). http://www.ualberta.ca/∼iiqm/backissues/3_2/pdf/moerercreswell
23.
MoustakasC. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. SAGE.
24.
MoyerM. S.SullivanJ. R.GrowcockD. (2012). When is it ethical to inform administrators about student risk-taking behaviors? Perceptions of school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 15(3), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X1201500303
25.
MullenP. R.GriffithC.GreeneJ. H.LambieG. W. (2014). Social media and professional school counselors: Ethical and legal considerations. Journal of School Counseling, 12(8). http://www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v12n8.pdf
26.
Musu-GilletteL.de BreyC.McFarlandJ.HussarW.SonnenbergW.Wilkinson-FlickerS. (2017). Status and trends in the education of racial and ethnic groups 2017. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED574873
27.
RobertsE. A.ComeauJ. K.Van AsseltK. W.TrepalH. C. (2019). School counselors’ experiences and practices of working with adolescents who self-harm. Journal of School Counseling, 17(17). http://www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v17n17.pdf
28.
StoneC. (2017). School counseling principles: Ethics and law (4th ed.). American School Counselor Association.
29.
Trice-BlackS.RiechelM. E. K.ShillingfordM. A. (2013). School counselors’ constructions of student confidentiality. Journal of School Counseling, 11(12). http://www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v11n12.pdf
30.
WalleyC. T.GrothausT. (2013). A qualitative examination of school counselors’ training to recognize and respond to adolescent mental health issues. Journal of School Counseling, 11(11). http://www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v11n11.pdf
