During a practicum, what ethical obligation does a counseling student have regarding client confidentiality?

In a practicum setting, counseling students are bound by the same ethical obligations regarding client confidentiality as licensed counselors. This stems from the ethical standards set forth by professional organizations, such as the American Counseling Association (ACA), which emphasize the necessity of maintaining confidentiality to protect clients' privacy and dignity.

Maintaining confidentiality fosters a trusting therapeutic relationship and is essential for clients to feel safe sharing personal and potentially sensitive information. Counseling students, despite their status as trainees, must uphold these standards as part of their training to ensure they learn to prioritize client welfare. Their adherence to confidentiality is crucial not only for ethical practice but also for their development into competent professionals.

In such scenarios, sharing information with faculty or supervisors may occur, but it should always be done with the intention of improving the student's skills and understanding while still protecting the client’s identity and personal details. This is typically undertaken through supervision or consultation where the focus is on client learning rather than disclosing information freely.