From the Trenches to the Field

From the Trenches to the Field

Author: Sarah Brooke Babins

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13:

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The roles and responsibilities of school counselors across the United States are often misinterpreted amongst various stakeholders, individual state requirements for educational initiatives, and often among practicing counselors' own perceptions and view of professional identity. While the American School Counselor Association (ASCA, 2003; 2005) strives to provide ethical standards and practices to solidify the professional identity of school counselors and acquire the qualifications and skills to address all students' academic, personal/social and career development needs, a clear defined definition and perception of the school counselor continues to become solidified. Perhaps this is due to the changing educational horizon, communities, administration, and federal influences of policies and procedures on schools and school districts (Bain, 2012). Whatever the reason, school counselors are faced with a myriad of challenges that make it difficult in today's educational society to adhere to the social/emotional, post-secondary/career, and academic needs of all students. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA, 2003;2005) has developed the ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs which establishes a structure for effective school counseling programs; however, school counseling programs, credentials, and educational initiatives can be different from state to state. This study examined high school counselors (9th-12th grade) in Pennsylvania, suburban, public high Schools, specifically in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. A quasi-mixed methods, exploratory research approach was used. Nonparametric statistics were run to determine if a significant impact of demographic variables yielded a difference in school counselors' self-efficacy. Additionally, school counselors were randomly selected to participate in semi-structured, open-ended interviews, examining high school counselors' perceptions and self-efficacy regarding their roles and responsibilities pertaining to students' mental health issues. Results indicated that gender, one's undergraduate degree of education, and years of experience have significant impact on school counselors' self-efficacy, specifically related to certain items on the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales (Lent, et al., 2003). After content analysis coding, it was also found that school counselors feel high efficacy beliefs associated with specific roles and responsibilities and that self-efficacy beliefs change if counselors perceive a lack of stakeholder support or do not feel they are valued. Some implications for future research might be a longitudinal study of school counselors' self-efficacy over a given period of time and a larger sample size. It might also be helpful to combine elements of the CASES Scales with other school counselor based scales to form a more unified measurement that speaks to school counselors' roles and responsibilities that have been identified within this study and expand to specific mental health diagnosis, disorders, and behaviors. KEY WORDS: School Counseling, Communication, Educational Psychology.


Special Education Students' Perceptions of Counseling

Special Education Students' Perceptions of Counseling

Author: Harry Barsuk

Publisher: Universal-Publishers

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 109

ISBN-13: 1581122489

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The purpose of this study was to uncover the counseling-related thoughts and feelings of special education students who began their participation in counseling involuntarily. Under exploration were the client variables and other influences that accounted for resistant or cooperative approaches toward participation in counseling. Eight students enrolled in special education classes at one middle school and two high schools in a rural area of Western New York State were randomly selected from a list of 24 potential research participants. The list of 24 potential research participants was assembled by a local expert commissioned to do so using a purposeful sampling method. A qualitatively designed, semi-structured interview format was chosen as the means of data collection. All interviews were transcribed by the investigator. Review of student records, triangulation of the data, and peer-debriefings were employed as methods by which to establish credibility of the findings. Records were also reviewed to identify counselor variables related to age, race, gender, and level of experience. The findings revealed a number of client variables and other influences that accounted for the development or maintenance of resistance toward counseling. Client variables that accounted for resistance included negative expectations of counseling, denial of need, and uncertainty regarding what to expect from counseling. Other influences that accounted for resistance toward counseling included specific requirements of the counseling process and counselors who are perceived as uncaring, overbearing, or prone to lecturing. Client variables that accounted for cooperation and active participation in counseling were the development of optimism and hope that counseling would be a positive experience and the recognition of the value of the services offered. Other influences that contributed to cooperation and active participation were the inclusion of activities and games into the counseling process, a perceived escape from the stress of the school day, and counselors who were viewed as "cool," funny, open, and genuinely concerned about their clients.


The School Counselor′s Guide to Special Education

The School Counselor′s Guide to Special Education

Author: Barbara C. Trolley

Publisher: Corwin Press

Published: 2009-01-13

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 1452273189

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"Provides a wealth of specific information and resources that should be at the fingertips of every school counselor." —Richard Hazler, Professor of Counselor Education, Penn State University Author, Helping in the Hallways The school counselor′s all-in-one reference for assisting students with special needs! What is the school counselor′s role in the special education process? How can school counselors assist students with special needs? In this comprehensive and thorough guide, the authors answer these and other questions about best practices for meeting the academic, social, and career requirements of students with disabilities. This hands-on guide clarifies the counselor′s role and provides a wealth of practical strategies for navigating special education processes, using available resources, and building effective teams. The authors examine special education procedures and present interventions for preschool, school-age, and transitioning students, provide study questions for reflection, and cover topics such as: Assessment and intervention, including RTI Behavioral and academic challenges associated with disabilities Collaboration with school and community personnel and medical specialists Disability categories Legal and ethical issues Individual and group counseling Special education terminology Designed for busy school professionals, The School Counselor′s Guide to Special Education is an invaluable desk reference that will help counselors respond with confidence to a wide range of student and staff needs.


The School Counselor's Guide to Helping Students with Disabilities

The School Counselor's Guide to Helping Students with Disabilities

Author: Laura E. Marshak

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2009-12-21

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 0470175796

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Down-to-earth advice for helping students with disabilities succeed The School Counselor's Guide to Helping Students with Disabilities offers school counselors a practical guide for handling the complexities of working with children and youth who have disabilities. The book is organized to correspond with the myriad responsibilities and roles assumed by school counselors in elementary, middle and high school settings. The authors provide both seasoned and new school counselors with the insight and tools they need to successfully promote the academic, personal, social, and career success of students with disabilities. Presents a wealth of relevant disability-related knowledge and useful strategies Includes information on the most pertinent legislation pertaining to students with disabilities Offers the most effective counseling interventions for helping young children or adolescents experiencing social exclusion because of their disabilities Bonus section contains a wealth of disability-specific information with implications and practical applications for counselors This important book brings together experts in two disciplines, school counseling and special education/disabilities, in order to address the practicalities and possibilities of working with students with disabilities.


Working With Students With Disabilities

Working With Students With Disabilities

Author: Vicki A. McGinley

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Published: 2015-09-14

Total Pages: 388

ISBN-13: 1483359727

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Working with Students with Disabilities: Preparing School Counselors by Vicki A. McGinley and Barbara C. Trolley is an essential tool for all school counselors in training and in practice with the aim to provide a comprehensive approach to working with students with disabilities in a school setting. As more students with disabilities are being included, school counselors need to have a fundamental understanding of the terminology, laws, principles, collaboration, assessment measures, and psycho-social, diversity issues associated with special education. This book continues in the trend of providing sound, evidenced-based knowledge with practical case examples and guided exercises, making the material 'come alive' and fostering critical thinking. “Finally, a book FOR school counselors that specifically addresses the needs of students with disabilities and how we can interface with the team in supporting these students.” –Nona Cabral, California Baptist University “McGinley and Trolley have brought together in one exceptional volume the vast material that modern school counselors often leave the classroom searching for – how to understand the complexities of the system in regards to students with special needs, how to best collaborate with professionals and families in meeting those needs, and how to best structure interventions and programs to move those students forward across social, emotional, and academic realms.” –Carrie Lynn Bailey, Georgia Southern University “McGinley and Trolley have crafted a text that illuminates the multifaceted responsibilities of school counselors relevant to special education. Faculty, graduate students and practicing counselors alike will find the problem-based learning approach a helpful guide for integrating the content covered in this text into their professional practice.” –Kylie P. Dotson-Blake, East Carolina University “Special education students are frequently the most marginalized group on school campuses. Working with Students with Disabilities: Preparing School Counselors points to ways school counselors can open pathways for creating a learning community that supports all students.” –Rolla E. Lewis, California State University, East Bay


Working with Students with Disabilities

Working with Students with Disabilities

Author: Theresa A. Quigney

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-01-22

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1317802675

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Like no other book available, Working with Students with Disabilities: A Guide for School Counselors provides comprehensive coverage of school counselors’ roles in special education and working with students with disabilities and connects that coverage to both the ASCA national model and CACREP standards. In Working with Students with Disabilities, school counselors will find thoughtful analyses of the legal and regulatory basis for many of the practices in special education, including an overview of pertinent laws including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. They’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the leadership role that school counselors should play in supporting students, teachers, and families, and they’ll also come away with an understanding of the common challenges—like bullying, cyberbullying, and successful transitioning from high school to adult life— to which students with disabilities may be more vulnerable, as well as less common challenges such as behavioral difficulties, autism spectrum disorders, and many more.


ASCA National Model

ASCA National Model

Author: American School Counselor Association

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 152

ISBN-13: 9781929289592

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"The ASCA National Model reflects a comprehensive approach to the design, implementation and assessment of a school counseling program that improves student success. The publication defines the school counselor's role in implementation of a school counseling program and provides step-by-step tools to build each componenet of your school counseling program, including defining, managing, delivering and assessing. This fourth edition reflects current education practices, aligns with the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student and the ASCA professional standards & competencies and assists school counselors in developing an examplary school counseling program"-[P. 4], Cover.