What is a primary ethical consideration for counselors when handling crisis situations?

Prioritizing student safety is a fundamental ethical consideration for counselors when dealing with crisis situations. In these contexts, the immediate well-being and safety of the student take precedence over other considerations. Counselors are often faced with situations that may involve risk of harm, whether it's self-harm, harm to others, or other serious crises.

When a client is in crisis, the counselor's role is to assess the risk factors and determine the appropriate course of action to ensure the safety of the student, which may include intervening or contacting appropriate authorities. This ethical obligation aligns with the overarching responsibility of school counselors to protect their students and provide a safe environment.

While maintaining client confidentiality is important, it can be overridden in situations where there is imminent risk to the student’s safety or the safety of others. Offering personal opinions and minimizing parental involvement do not align with the primary ethical responsibility of ensuring that students are safe during crises, and thus are not considered primary ethical considerations in such scenarios.