ASE ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING FRAMEWORK
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Student/situation (initials/grade only): _______________  Date: ___________
Counselor: ___________________________

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STEP 1 — IDENTIFY THE TENSION

Name the ethical issue clearly:


Values or obligations in tension:
  [ ] Confidentiality vs. safety
  [ ] Student autonomy vs. parental rights
  [ ] Institutional loyalty vs. student advocacy
  [ ] Cultural norms vs. professional ethics
  [ ] Mandatory reporting vs. relational trust
  [ ] Other:

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STEP 2 — APPLY THE THREE GOVERNORS

Constitutional governor:
(Neurological, developmental, or health factors relevant to this decision)



Cultural governor:
(Cultural context shaping this dilemma; whose framework is the default?)



Circumstantial governor:
(Specific, time-bound conditions creating urgency or complexity)



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STEP 3 — CONSULT RELEVANT STANDARDS

[ ] ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (relevant section: ___)
[ ] State law — mandatory reporting statutes
[ ] State law — minor consent statutes
[ ] FERPA
[ ] District policy

Key standard bearing on this decision:


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STEP 4 — CONSIDER THE ADVOCATING STANCE

What does the advocating stance require here?


Who else in this student's environment needs to be considered?


What action would I be comfortable defending to a supervisor,
a licensing board, and to this student in five years?


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STEP 5 — CONSULT (before acting whenever possible)

  [ ] Site supervisor    [ ] University supervisor    [ ] Administrator
  [ ] District counseling coordinator    [ ] Legal counsel

Consultant: _________________________  Date: _____________
Summary of consultation:


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STEP 6 — DECIDE AND DOCUMENT

Decision made:


Rationale (standard, governor analysis, advocating stance):


Action taken:


Documentation location:

Follow-up needed:


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