SAC Professional Standards & Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an SAC consults with a supervisor about a difficult case, which practice best protects client confidentiality?
- Sharing the student's full name so the supervisor can review the file
- Using only identifying details necessary to obtain useful guidance (Correct answer)
- Avoiding all consultation to ensure complete confidentiality
- Sending the full case file via school email for convenience
Correct answer: Using only identifying details necessary to obtain useful guidance
Consultation should use only the minimum necessary information to protect client privacy while still obtaining meaningful professional guidance.
Question 2: Cultural competence in SAC practice requires the counselor to:
- Apply the same evidence-based approach uniformly to all students
- Recognize and adapt services to address the student's cultural background and values (Correct answer)
- Refer all students from minority backgrounds to culturally-specific outside agencies
- Ask students to set aside their cultural beliefs during sessions
Correct answer: Recognize and adapt services to address the student's cultural background and values
Cultural competence means actively adapting practice to honor and incorporate the student's cultural context rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.
Question 3: An SAC who suspects a student is being abused at home is REQUIRED by law to:
- Investigate the abuse independently before making any report
- Report the suspicion to the designated child protective services agency (Correct answer)
- Consult with the alleged abuser before making a report
- Wait for physical evidence before taking any action
Correct answer: Report the suspicion to the designated child protective services agency
Mandatory reporting laws require SACs to report suspected abuse to child protective services immediately without independent investigation.
Question 4: The ethical principle of 'nonmaleficence' obligates the SAC to:
- Provide equal services to all students regardless of need
- Avoid actions that could cause harm to the student (Correct answer)
- Promote student self-determination in all decisions
- Maintain honest and transparent communication at all times
Correct answer: Avoid actions that could cause harm to the student
Nonmaleficence means 'do no harm' — the counselor must avoid practices or actions that could injure or harm the client.
Question 5: A student who is 16 asks the SAC not to tell their parents that they are receiving counseling for depression. The SAC should:
- Always inform parents since the student is a minor
- Evaluate applicable state laws, school policy, and the student's best interest before deciding (Correct answer)
- Agree to total secrecy to build therapeutic trust
- Withdraw services if the student will not consent to parental notification
Correct answer: Evaluate applicable state laws, school policy, and the student's best interest before deciding
State laws, school policies, and clinical judgment must all be weighed together when determining parental notification for minor students.
Question 6: Professional boundaries in SAC practice are MOST important because they:
- Limit the number of sessions a student can attend
- Protect both the student and the counselor and maintain the integrity of the therapeutic relationship (Correct answer)
- Prevent the SAC from becoming emotionally invested in student outcomes
- Ensure the SAC follows administrative directives at all times
Correct answer: Protect both the student and the counselor and maintain the integrity of the therapeutic relationship
Clear boundaries safeguard the therapeutic relationship, prevent exploitation, and maintain professional integrity for both parties.
Question 7: Which scenario represents an appropriate use of self-disclosure by an SAC?
- Sharing personal substance use history in detail to build rapport with a student
- Briefly mentioning a personal struggle to normalize the student's experience when clinically relevant (Correct answer)
- Posting personal opinions about students on social media to create connection
- Discussing personal life problems with students to reduce professional distance
Correct answer: Briefly mentioning a personal struggle to normalize the student's experience when clinically relevant
Appropriate self-disclosure is brief, purposeful, and serves the student's therapeutic needs rather than the counselor's personal needs.
SAC Professional Standards & Ethics 3
When an SAC consults with a supervisor about a difficult case, which practice best protects client confidentiality?