This phenomenological study explored the experiences of rural school counselors as social justice advocates. The first author interviewed seven participants in their respective communities and identified five themes, including both positive and negative elements: the stability of place, community promise, mutual reliance, professional and personal…

This article describes a cohort model of school counselor preparation designed to enhance graduate student commitment to social justice. Foundational principles of group work are used as the vehicle for understanding self in context and for integrating the tenets associated with social justice advocacy. Key components related to program mission,…

The Professional School Counselor Belief Statements form used in this study was created to survey a national sample of practicing professional school counselors to determine their position on specific educational issues. Findings indicate the need for professional school counselors to examine the relationship between their personal belief systems…

If the full impact of the transformation of the school counseling profession is to be enacted, it is incumbent upon school counselor educators to model the same skills and professional mindset that are expected of practicing school counselors. Specifically, school counselor educators can serve as leaders within their educational communities in…

Professional school counselor roles have changed over time in response to societal needs and professional initiatives. Although school counselors consistently have been involved in group work, the intent of that involvement has changed. New ways of viewing group work can enable school counselors to engage in roles related to leadership, advocacy,…

This article provides background for and descriptions of the transformations in school counselor preparation and practice related to the academic domain of student development. (Contains 24 references.) (GCP)

Discusses what constitutes the developmental part of a comprehensive, developmental, and collaborative school counseling program. Provides a review of the developmental perspective as well as an overview of recent discussions related to the need for changes in school counseling program focus. Considers the potential for maintaining a developmental…

Asserts that transforming school counselor education to prepare counselors to become educational leaders who serve as advocates for the equitable treatment of all children demands a systems-oriented approach, addressing underlying assumptions and values that guide such work and outlining components of one program that can serve as examples for…

Presents a structured school-based program for intervention which includes steps of early identification, assessment, referral, and followup. Concludes that, as schools address problems associated with drug abuse, they must do so with long-range planning and commitment of all personnel, including the school counselor. (ABL)

The state of Georgia has experienced dramatic growth in the Latino/a population during the past decade, with a third of the new Latino/a population younger than the age of 18. Consequently, school systems were not prepared for the challenges posed by a Spanish-speaking immigrant population. The authors organized an interdisciplinary conference to…

As the 21st century unfolds, there is a need to consider the context in which school counselors practice as well as the corresponding challenges and opportunities that this context presents. This article identifies a number of the challenges facing school counselors, and attempts to respond to these challenges as opportunities to better meet the…

Assessed perceptions of officials (n=51) of state departments of education regarding school counseling. Determined there had been an increase in the number of school counseling positions with 27 percent indicating that insufficient numbers of certified counselors existed to fill positions. Most states reported policies allowing employment before…

Provides a review of school counseling as a specialty area of the counseling profession, including attention to historical development, training standards and accreditation, certification, and future trends and issues. (Author)

This article considers the unique supervision needs of graduate students in practicum and internship in the state of Georgia where, in addition to guidelines from national initiatives, the Board of Regents institutions are utilizing new standards for the preparation of school counselors incorporating roles as both counselors and educators.

Consisting of a description and overview of developmental principles, concepts, and strategies, this article clarifies the meaning of a developmental school counseling program and suggests it as a program framework. Suggests a cognitive developmental approach as especially useful in guiding program implementation and development. (JBJ)