Do student counselors have the same ethical obligations to confidentiality as licensed counselors?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only with informed consent
• D. Only in supervised settings

Answer: (A)

Confidentiality is a baseline ethical requirement for all counselors, and student counselors are bound by the same rule. Even while training under supervision, they must protect clients’ private information and disclose it only within the limits of ethical codes and the law. The supervisor’s access to case material is a normal part of supervision, but information should be shared only as needed for training and handled with care to protect anonymity where possible. The same limits apply for everyone: disclosures are allowed or required if there’s imminent risk of harm, cases of abuse or neglect, or other legal mandates. Informed consent matters to explain how confidentiality works and how information may be shared with a supervisor, but it doesn’t create confidentiality itself. So, student counselors carry the same confidentiality obligations as licensed counselors.