All school counselors adhere to a code of ethics when delivering counseling services. We deliver services in alignment to what is called the American School Counseling Association (ASCA): National Model.

Ethical Standards Applicable to Virtual School Counseling

The ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors: Virtual Section states the following: A.15. Virtual/Distance School Counseling

School counselors:

a. Adhere to the same ethical guidelines in a virtual/distance setting as school counselors in face-to-face settings.

b. Recognize and acknowledge the challenges and limitations of virtual/distance school counseling.

c. Implement procedures for students to follow in both emergency and nonemergency situations when the school counselor is not available.

d. Recognize and mitigate the limitation of virtual/distance school counseling confidentiality, which may include unintended viewers or recipients.

e. Inform both the student and parent/guardian of the benefits and limitations of virtual/distance counseling.

f. Educate students on how to participate in the electronic school counseling relationship to minimize and prevent potential misunderstandings that could occur due to lack of verbal cues and inability to read body language or other visual cues that provide contextual meaning to the school counseling process and school counseling relationship.