She told me her secret: Do I warn? Who do I warn?

Abstract

This chapter looks at ethical decision making and therapeutic relationship. Kristina has just begun her first semester as an emergency certified school counselor in a small rural high school. Emergency certified school counselors are hired in situations in which a school counseling position cannot be filled. This often happens when there are no applicants for the job. Kristina has also just begun attending practicum class. Alicia, a 14-year-old Mexican American freshman, came to see her during the first -week of classes, saying that she is sad because her 16-year-old sister has run away from home with her boyfriend. The two are living in Mexico near the town where her parents grew up. Alicia lives with her mother, father, younger brother, and maternal grandmother. Since her sister ran away, Alicia's parents have become critical of her, fearing she will turn out just like her sister and run away. Alicia is unhappy because of the increasing pressures at home. During the sixth session, Alicia told the counselor she is especially unhappy because her parents have forbidden her to see her boyfriend, Cleofas, whom she had been dating for the past few weeks. They object to him because he is too old for her. Alicia's father threatened to call the police if he learns Cleofas and Alicia are still seeing each other. When Kristina asked for details, Alicia disclosed that Cleofas is 23 years old. Her parents believe she is no longer seeing him, but some days she pretends to get ready for school, and as soon as her parents leave for work, she meets Cleofas and spends the day at his house. Alicia also disclosed she had unprotected sex with Cleofas one time but did not plan to do it again because she did not like it very much. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)