A counselor treating Calvin, age 11, receives a school principal’s request for a copy of Calvin’s treatment records with a signed parental release. What should you do?

Prepare for the LPCC Law and Ethics Test 2. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations. Enhance your understanding of ethics and legal standards for effective counseling practice.

When a minor’s confidential records are requested by a school with a signed parental release, the counselor should comply in a targeted way that serves the school’s need while protecting the child’s privacy. The right move is to provide only the portion of the treatment records that is directly relevant to the student’s behavior and functioning in the school setting. This ensures the school has the necessary information to support the student without exposing unrelated or highly sensitive material from the broader treatment file.

Providing the entire record would reveal information unnecessary for the school’s purpose and could unnecessarily breach confidentiality. Refusing the release ignores the parent’s authorization, and offering only a summary may be appropriate only if the release specifies that format; otherwise, sharing the relevant portion of the records is most appropriate. If any scope is uncertain, confirm with the parent to ensure the release matches what the school needs.