time being an objective counselor and not a subjective persuader. The counselor also needs to be continually aware of changes, subtraction, or additions in laws regarding his profession. In doing so he or she will be able to competently and adequately refer the counselee when necessary, whether for additional career guidance or even for psychological services.
[A.8-11] If such services are needed to protect self and others from the counselee, the strictest confidence needs to be maintained such that only legal authorities are aware of what only legal authorities are legally entitled to. The counselor's job is to provide information, not to evaluate that information. This rule applies whether the information concerns career choices or personal choices. Even though many who will come in for counsel are unfortunately unable to themselves evaluate the choices, the counselor needs to be careful not to suggest actions not in line with the counselee's own purpose. A good way to remain objective is to professionally select, explain, and administer to the counselee tests or assessments of ability, interest, or even intelligence.
[B.1-6] Usually a counselee is on good terms with his or her parent, and the counselor will not need to contact them because the counselee communicates all relevant information on his own. Occasionally the counselee does not want the parent to know of his or her plans, or even of the visit to the counselor, and the counselor needs to respect that wish. The first responsibility is to the counselee, and even should he or she be seeing the parent of a counselee as another counselee, none of what either says should overlap into the other's session. If the family is experiencing difficulties or dysfunctional behaviors, then the counselor needs to be yet more careful, sensitive, and cautious in what he or she reveals and whom the information is revealed to. Of course, if the parents are required to receive informat...