School Counsellors’ Perspectives and Practices Regarding Informed Consent

Obtaining informed consent can be challenging when counselling youth in a school setting. This study explored how school counsellors (n=123) in Newfoundland and Labrador obtained informed consent when counselling youth. Surveys were distributed to school counsellors via an online survey platform. Fi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Palmer, Laura, Harris, Greg
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Morning Watch: Educational and Social Analysis 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.library.mun.ca/index.php/mwatch/article/view/1749
Description
Summary:Obtaining informed consent can be challenging when counselling youth in a school setting. This study explored how school counsellors (n=123) in Newfoundland and Labrador obtained informed consent when counselling youth. Surveys were distributed to school counsellors via an online survey platform. Findings suggested that many school counsellors obtained informed consent from their student clients regardless of their students’ ages. Importantly though, some variation did exist among participants in terms of informed consent practices as well as parental/guardian access to student client information practices. Perceptions regarding the nature and importance of information to provide through the informed consent process varied in some cases. Implications for policy, future research, and practice are highlighted.