School Counseling Is A Profession With Diverse Perceptions About The Identity Of A School Counselor

From this twenty year counseling veteran I learned about a functioning guidance program, the role of the counselor, the amount of time she spends in various components of the program, how to foster a positive relationship with the teachers and faculty, ways to continue to develop professionally, and insight for a future career in school counseling. As I drove away from the school, I felt a mix of emotions such as, intimidation, excitement, and hopefulness to name a few. When I began to try to take in just how much is required and how many people rely on a school counselor it was intimidating. In my mind I began to wonder if it is possible for one person to be that much to that many people and still keep some kind of balance. As soon as the thought passed through my mind, I immediately heard the words of wisdom that had been shared with me, "don 't beat yourself up for not being able to be everything to everybody." I also reflected on how upbeat the counselor sounded when she talked about her role in helping students become "the best people

It takes a special person to become a school counselor and in doing so it is important to take those life skills, knowledge, dispositions, and background experiences to help along the way. In the counseling field there are some guidelines and theories that will help, but nothing that prepares you for what may happen at any moment or any time during the day. It is clear that life definitely throws some unexpected curve balls and that is the same for situations in the field of school counseling. You never know what situation you will run into and in order to dodge those curve balls it is those life experiences that often time influence the direction in which we take both personally and professionally. It is important to compile all the knowledge and experiences that we have gained throughout life and apply them in a way that will help others to be successful. It is key to reflect on the past and those skills that I have that will lead me to become an effective professional school counselors.

The role of a school counselor is an intriguing one because they do not work with a specific type of client. While they will always be working with young children or teenagers, the problems their clients come to them with can be so different from client to client. One session might be dealing with questions about career choices. Another might be about dealing with bullying. Some days a school counselor may even have to be there for a child who was a victim of sexual or physical abuse. It is because of this wide range of demands that a school counselor should be well-versed in many types of counseling theories.

School counselors provide individual and group counseling for issues that impact academic achievement (Erford, 2015). Counselors in schools typically provide prevention, education, crisis response, and short term intervention services (ASCA, 2008). School counselors create groups from data, and usually develop psychoeducational groups to address identified skills needed (ASCA, 2008). While school counselors are taught how to respond to mental health issues, they concentrate on problems that are impeding personal, social, career, or educational development (Erford, 2015). Professional school counselors often choose strengths based and brief approaches to counseling to support student success (Erford, 2015). Individual counseling in schools provides students with resilience, encouragement, empowerment, acceptance, and a secure relationship (Erford, 2015). School counselors provide either counseling or psychoeducational groups. The counseling groups are crisis, problem, or growth centered. School counselors are able to provide many

According to the American School Counseling Association (ASCA), the “purpose of the school counseling program is to impart specific skills and learning opportunities in a proactive, preventive manner, ensuring all students can achieve school success through academic, career, and personal/social development experiences” (Oberman & Studer, 2011, p. 1). The ASCA National Model is used by school counselors to show devotion to student success (ASCA, n.d.-c, p. 1). The four components of the ASCA National Model are foundation, delivery, management, and accountability (ASCA, n.d.-c, p. 1).

The school counseling profession has evolved over time into a collaborative model. This collaborative model involves teachers, school administrators, parents, counselors, other school personal, and community stakeholders. The first guidance program was developed in 1895. In 1926 New York became the first state to require guidance workers to be certified; in 1929 New York became the first state to have full time guidance workers. In 1952 the American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA) was established, now known as American Counseling Association (ACA). In 1952 The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) was established. In 1958 the National Defense Education Act was passed, which increased training and

School counselors have a key role in advocating for academic success for each student in the school. The advocacy makes the counselors have a leadership role in encouraging and promoting school reforms. The advocacy efforts of school counselors aim to eliminate obstacles preventing the development of students and to create chances for all students to learn. It also aims to ensure students have access to the school curriculum that fits their needs. School counselors collaborate with other people within and outside the school to assist students meet their learning needs. In addition, advocacy promotes positive and systematic change in schools (Trusty & Brown, 2005).

The goal of a school counseling program to help all students reach academic success by providing supportive services that addresses issues or concerns comprising of academic, career and social/personal development. School counselors are not only concerned with students who are succeeding and motivated to learn, they also aim at encouraging students who are at risk of failing or dropping out of school to continue striving for success and setting goals that encourage productive citizens in communities. In order to create a comprehensive school counseling program, one must first recognize their own assumptions, perceptions and stereotypes regarding students’ behaviors, values and beliefs. One should also have a willingness to accept and understand

The law for school counseling has completely change. State laws have requested Professional School Counselors (PSC) to spend more time with school teachers, less time on paper work and other managerial tasks” (Dinkmeyer, 2006, 180). Along with this new framework PSC are allow4e more room and time for consultation which leads to the growth of “Individual Psychology.” The counselor who is defined as facilitator of change, cannot be “fully effective” if not given the opportunity to consult with children, parents, and faculty members, if he/she are only allowe4d traditional “administration” duties. “ASCA uses the terminology “consultation and collaboration” to emphasize the cooperative nature of the school counselor’s role. Working with teachers

Adrienne, I enjoyed reading your post and agree with your quote, "the study noted that were some administrators that were unfamiliar with any of the counseling profession's guiding standards. To me, this emphasizes the need for the counselor to grounded in their purpose. As quoted in Erford, 2015, Transforming the School Counseling Profession, "The role of the professional school counselor is frequently determined by others, rather than by the counselors' developing their own purposeful, comprehensive programs." As the role of the PSC advances, it is imperative that the school counselor is able to define its role. In the late 1990's the ASCA published the National Standards for School Counseling programs (C. Campbell & Dahir, 1997) and these standard gave direction to a profession searching for ways to solidify identity and role in standards-based school reform.

I hear you say counselors might be responsible for helping with testing and other duties such as scheduling. I can remember being in middle school and going to the counselor office to make changes to my class schedule. Counselors take on a lot or responsiblies working in an educational setting. Counselors have to help students transiting from elementary to middle school into the routine of changing classes, having their own locker and the changes made to their body. I can remember being in junior high school and every year each student would receive a care package. Many middle schools do not have the resources to help prepare students in middle school for puberty changes, which can cause some student to change their career path of what they would like to be in the future.

A guidance counselor has many aspects of their career. “School counselors help students develop academic and social skills to succeed in school” (School and Career). Helping the students figure out their problems with school work and with their peers,

As you can probably understand these teachers were overloaded with their regular duties and did not have time to receive extra training to focus on vocational/counseling related trainings. It wasn’t until the 1900’s that the teacher-counselor positions were replaced with full-time school counselors or what was known as “guidance counselors” (Schimmel, 2008). “An alliance among education, social work, and psychometrics in vocational guidance led to the organization of the National Vocational Guidance Association (NVGA) in 1913” (Lambie & Williamson, 2004). By creating this association, it gave a voice to guidance counselors and created a network of support and strength to the career as a whole. “In the 1940’s, the “Father of Counseling,” Carl Rogers, published his book…Following the inception of Rogers’ work, the term guidance began to be replaced in the literature by counseling…” (Lambie & Williamson, 2004). Hence, the term guidance counselor is still used today, the new generation of school counselors do not prefer to be titled as so.

School counseling is a profession that may look simple from the outside, but in reality, it is a complex profession that has evolved to become a vital resource for students to have throughout their education. I strongly feel that this is a profession that empowers individuals to make a difference in students’ lives and I am very eager to continue learning and watching myself grow to ultimately become a school counselor.

Counselling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals (Spurgeon, 2012). Schools have been identified as one of the main settings for the promotion of well-being and mental health in children and young people (Department for Education and Employment, 2001; DCSF, 2008b, as cited in Harris, 2009). Counselling in an educational context establishes career and college planning, interpersonal concerns, family matters, substance use, and personal identity issues, dominating student’s awareness, with the counselling climate providing an appropriate environment to address these issues (Cormier & Hackney, 2012). Due to the increasing needs of counselling within schools, School Guidance Counsellors are a critical commodity for young people in today’s society.