Crisis Intervention and Prevention in K–12 Schools

In anticipation of a crisis, schools ideally create a thorough and collaborative crisis plan that allows the various personnel to understand potential risks and to implement a plan of action should a crisis occur. This chapter discusses the relational foundation for crisis intervention and prevention in K-12 schools. Bullying, which can erupt from unequal balances of power and influence, remains a prevalent form of violence on school campuses. Responsive services target students whose personal concerns and problems may affect their development. Counseling relationships with minors require that counselors consider the specialized ethical obligations of confidentiality, parental consent, and counselor competencies needed for working with minors. Ethically, minors should be able to expect confidentiality in many instances; however, parents and guardians hold certain legal rights that limit confidentiality. The chapter also presents the steps to provide responsive counseling services.