In the context of school counseling, what does confidentiality mean?

Confidentiality in the context of school counseling refers to the obligation that counselors have to protect the personal and sensitive information of their students. This means that, as a school counselor, you are required to maintain privacy around what students share during counseling sessions, thereby creating a safe space for them to express their thoughts and feelings.

The obligation to protect student information can be broken under specific circumstances, such as when there is a clear risk of harm to the student or others. In such cases, the counselor must prioritize safety over confidentiality, potentially involving parents, guardians, or authorities. This balance between protecting student information and addressing safety concerns is a crucial component of a counselor's ethical responsibilities.

The other options do not accurately depict the essence of confidentiality in school counseling. For instance, sharing all student information with parents is contrary to the principle of confidentiality. Similarly, disclosing all student information in group settings or keeping counseling sessions private from school administrators does not align with the ethical responsibilities associated with confidentiality.