Which action is essential when a school counselor learns sensitive information from a student?

Respecting confidentiality is a fundamental principle in counseling, especially within a school setting. When a school counselor learns sensitive information from a student, it is imperative that they maintain the student's trust by keeping that information confidential. This creates a safe environment for the student to express themselves without fear of their private matters being disclosed to others.

Confidentiality is crucial for fostering an appropriate counseling relationship, as it encourages students to be honest and open with their counselors. While there may be circumstances where confidentiality can be breached—such as imminent risk of harm to the student or others—these situations must adhere to relevant legal and ethical guidelines.

The other actions, while potentially important in different contexts, do not align with the immediate responsibility of maintaining confidentiality after learning sensitive information. For instance, documenting information can be useful, but it should always be done with the awareness of confidentiality issues. Discussing the sensitive information with other teachers or seeking parental approval could undermine the trust established between the student and the counselor, and possibly violate confidentiality principles.