What is the counseling standard for the treatment of records post-termination, according to confidentiality guidelines?

The correct answer highlights the importance of maintaining confidentiality even after the termination of counseling services. According to ethical guidelines, particularly those set out by the ACA Code of Ethics, it is crucial that records are handled with care to protect client privacy.

When a counseling relationship ends, the responsibility to ensure that client information remains confidential does not simply disappear. Proper disposal methods, such as shredding documents or securely deleting electronic files, are essential to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. This aligns with the overarching principle of protecting client confidentiality and trust, which are fundamental to the counseling profession.

In contrast, other approaches such as revealing records publicly or disposing of them without consideration undermine the ethical obligation to safeguard client privacy. Similarly, merely noting records for future use lacks the necessary attention to confidentiality and might expose sensitive information unnecessarily.