Background of the Background of the School Counseling School Counseling

ProfessionProfession

Exercises & ApplicationsExercises & Applications

Reflect on your experience with a Reflect on your experience with a school counselor. Based on this, school counselor. Based on this, describe the role of the school describe the role of the school counselor.counselor.

Compare this description to the ASCA Compare this description to the ASCA description of a school counselor. description of a school counselor. Discuss differences and similarities.Discuss differences and similarities.

History of School CounselingHistory of School Counseling

The counseling profession The counseling profession entered the schoolhouse in the entered the schoolhouse in the early 20th centuryearly 20th century

HistoryHistory

Jesse B. DavisJesse B. Davis - introduced - introduced “vocational and moral guidance” “vocational and moral guidance” as a curriculum into an English as a curriculum into an English coursecourse

This was the first systematic This was the first systematic guidance program in public guidance program in public schools schools

HistoryHistory

Frank Parsons - the “Father of Frank Parsons - the “Father of Guidance” Guidance”

His work had significant impact on His work had significant impact on the vocational guidance movementthe vocational guidance movement

1909 - Wrote the book, 1909 - Wrote the book, Choosing a Choosing a Vocation,Vocation, which offered a method which offered a method to match a person’s personal to match a person’s personal characteristics with an occupationcharacteristics with an occupation

HistoryHistory

The work of Jesse Davis, Eli Weaver, The work of Jesse Davis, Eli Weaver, and Frank Parsons and a host of and Frank Parsons and a host of other pioneers created momentum other pioneers created momentum for the development of a school for the development of a school counseling profession.counseling profession.

During the 1920s-1940s, many During the 1920s-1940s, many events occurred that gave clarity and events occurred that gave clarity and direction to this emerging profession.direction to this emerging profession.

HistoryHistory

World War I - gave more reason World War I - gave more reason for testing individualsfor testing individuals

The term “counselor” rarely The term “counselor” rarely heard prior to the depression, heard prior to the depression, was now a part of the vocabulary was now a part of the vocabulary of all educators. of all educators.

Prior to this time, the term Prior to this time, the term “guidance” was used“guidance” was used

HistoryHistory

World War II - and it’s aftermath World War II - and it’s aftermath created a greater emphasis on created a greater emphasis on “psychological testing” that “psychological testing” that directly influenced school guidancedirectly influenced school guidance

World War II - government World War II - government requested assistance from requested assistance from counselors for screening, selecting counselors for screening, selecting military and industrial specialistmilitary and industrial specialist

HistoryHistory

1930s - the first theory of 1930s - the first theory of guidance was introduced. E. G. guidance was introduced. E. G. Williamson’s Trait and Factor Williamson’s Trait and Factor theory. theory.

This was known as directive or This was known as directive or counselor-centeredcounselor-centered

HistoryHistory

1946 - George Barden Act - legislation 1946 - George Barden Act - legislation that provided funds to develop and that provided funds to develop and support guidance and counseling support guidance and counseling activities in schools and other settingsactivities in schools and other settings

This was the first timeThis was the first time school school counselors and state and local counselors and state and local supervisors received resources, supervisors received resources, leadership and financial support from leadership and financial support from the governmentthe government

HistoryHistory

1957 - Sputnik - first earth 1957 - Sputnik - first earth satellite that was launched by satellite that was launched by the Soviet Unionthe Soviet Union

Sputnik was the “lift-off” and Sputnik was the “lift-off” and “orbit” for counseling & guidance “orbit” for counseling & guidance in the USin the US

1958 - Nat’l Defense Ed. Act1958 - Nat’l Defense Ed. Act

HistoryHistory

Part of the NDEA focused on:Part of the NDEA focused on:1. Providing funds to help states 1. Providing funds to help states

establish and maintain school establish and maintain school counseling, testing, guidance counseling, testing, guidance activitiesactivities

2. Authorized the establishment of 2. Authorized the establishment of counseling institutions and training counseling institutions and training programs in colleges and universitiesprograms in colleges and universities

HistoryHistory

1953 - ASCA joined APGA1953 - ASCA joined APGA1962 - Wrenn’s book, 1962 - Wrenn’s book, The The

Counselor in a Changing World -Counselor in a Changing World -solidified the goals of school solidified the goals of school c’ingc’ing

1964 - ASCA develops a role and 1964 - ASCA develops a role and function statement for function statement for counselors acounselors a

HistoryHistory

1965 - Elem & secondary Ed Act - 1965 - Elem & secondary Ed Act - provided funding to improve provided funding to improve educational opportunities of low-educational opportunities of low-income familiesincome families

1960-70s - Collaboration with teachers 1960-70s - Collaboration with teachers 1974 - PL 14-1421974 - PL 14-1421980-90s - maturation of legislative 1980-90s - maturation of legislative

efforts, need for clear identify, rolesefforts, need for clear identify, roles

HistoryHistory

1997 - National Standards for 1997 - National Standards for School Counseling Programs is School Counseling Programs is publishedpublished

Late 1990s-00s - Transforming Late 1990s-00s - Transforming school counselingschool counseling

School GuidanceSchool Guidance

(1900 - 1920) - Occupational (1900 - 1920) - Occupational Selection and Placement was Selection and Placement was emphasizedemphasized

(1930 -1960) - School (1930 -1960) - School AdjustmentAdjustment

(1960- present) - Personal (1960- present) - Personal DevelopmentDevelopment

AlCA’s Formative Years/HistoryAlCA’s Formative Years/History

www.alca.sumternet.comwww.alca.sumternet.com1957 - Guidance Dept @ St Dept1957 - Guidance Dept @ St Dept NDEA = Guidance InstitutesNDEA = Guidance Institutes1967 - Joins APGA as “AlPGA”1967 - Joins APGA as “AlPGA”1979 - 3rd state in nation to 1979 - 3rd state in nation to

have licensure for professional have licensure for professional counselorscounselors

Defining Guidance & CounselingDefining Guidance & Counseling

What is guidance?What is guidance?

What is counseling?What is counseling?

DefiningDefining

School counselors serve 3 populations: students, parents and teachers.

Counselors deliver these services within the framework of an organized program

The design of the program is guided by the overall mission of the school, the desires and needs of the local community and the expanded goals of the state

(Schmidt, 1999)

DefiningDefining

"School counseling is a relatively young profession having emerged out of the vocational guidance movement in the early 1900s. In the decades since then, the profession has searched for a clear identity and the role for counselors in schools. Over 50 years ago, counselors struggled with their direction and purpose in schools, and today this struggle continues. Because of

DefiningDefining

this uncertainty, school counselors are sometimes criticized for not fulfilling their obligations. Exactly what these obligations are is a basic question all school counselors must ascertain in developing appropriate goals and objectives for their programs. Without clear goals and objectives, a

DefiningDefining

counselor's obligations can easily be misinterpreted and misunderstood by both the professional and the people who seek counseling services."

"Misunderstandings about the counselor's role are related in some measure to the confusion between the terms guidance and counseling and how these terms are used to describe what school counselors do."

School Counselor RoleSchool Counselor Role

InterventionsInterventionsIndividual and small group Individual and small group

counselingcounselingGroup guidanceGroup guidanceConsultation with parents, Consultation with parents,

teachers, othersteachers, othersProgram coordinationProgram coordination

(Cobia & Henderson)(Cobia & Henderson)

ASCA Ethical StandardsASCA Ethical Standards

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilitiesTo studentsTo studentsTo parentsTo parentsTo colleagues and professional To colleagues and professional

associatesassociatesTo the school and communityTo the school and communityTo selfTo selfTo the professionTo the profession

(Cobia & Henderson)(Cobia & Henderson)

Struggles and Confusion with Struggles and Confusion with Professional IdentityProfessional Identity

Schmidt’s view (1993):Schmidt’s view (1993):Confusion between the terms Confusion between the terms

“guidance” and “counseling” “guidance” and “counseling” Myrick’s view (1992):Myrick’s view (1992):No “clear understanding of the No “clear understanding of the

programs and processes involved in programs and processes involved in guidance and counseling guidance and counseling

Defining GuidanceDefining Guidance

Imprecise meaning and usageImprecise meaning and usageHas been flip-flopped with counseling Has been flip-flopped with counseling

for over 50 yearsfor over 50 yearsTraditionally an “umbrella” termTraditionally an “umbrella” termGuidance, guidance program, Guidance, guidance program,

guidance services, guidance lesson, guidance services, guidance lesson, guidance personnel, guidance guidance personnel, guidance counselor, guidance lessons, etc..counselor, guidance lessons, etc..

GuidanceGuidance

An umbrella term that includes such An umbrella term that includes such a constellation of services aimed at a constellation of services aimed at personal and career development personal and career development and school adjustmentand school adjustment

Guidance also describes the overall Guidance also describes the overall school program and implies personal school program and implies personal assistance to students, teachers, assistance to students, teachers, parents and administratorsparents and administrators

Defining CounselingDefining Counseling

Counseling has been perceived as a Counseling has been perceived as a process in which someone who has a process in which someone who has a problem receives personal assistance, problem receives personal assistance, usually through private discussionusually through private discussion

Term not used exclusively by school Term not used exclusively by school counselors or other professional counselors or other professional counselors. Who else uses our term?counselors. Who else uses our term?

What is counseling? What factors are What is counseling? What factors are involved?involved?

CounselingCounseling

The term "counseling" is used by people in the counseling profession to describe a special type of helping process.

There is a trust relationship in which the focus is on personal meaning of events and experiences. Counseling focuses on personal awareness, interests, attitudes, and

CounselingCounseling

goals. It has a philosophical and theoretical base which conceptualizes learning, human behavior, and interpersonal relationships.

Counseling considered a professional endeavor by a professionally trained and certified person

CounselingCounseling

Counseling can be described as a job function and a helping process. It identifies the work or service of the counselor and the way in which the counselor helps the students.

What Can Counseling Do?

1. Counseling can help prevent “normal” problems from becoming more serious. More serious ones could result in delinquency, school failure, emotional disturbance

2. Counseling can create a healthy environment to help children cope with the stresses and conflicts of their growth and development.

What Can Counseling Do?

3. 3. Counseling can also be a major remedial force for healing children in trouble. They can be helped through the counseling interventions offered at school.

Historical Approaches to C&GHistorical Approaches to C&G

Myrick (1992) offered 4 Myrick (1992) offered 4 approaches:approaches:

1. Crisis Approach1. Crisis Approach2. Remedial Approach2. Remedial Approach3. Preventive Approach3. Preventive Approach4. Developmental Approach4. Developmental Approach

Status of the ProfessionStatus of the Profession

ACA - www.counseling.orgACA - www.counseling.org

ASCA - www.schoolcounselor.orgASCA - www.schoolcounselor.org

ALACA - ALACA - www.alca.sumternet.comwww.alca.sumternet.com

ACA’s Formative Years & ACA’s Formative Years & HistoryHistory

www.counseling.org www.counseling.org 1952 - APGA established1952 - APGA established 1983 - Name changed to AACD1983 - Name changed to AACD 1992 - Name changed to ACA1992 - Name changed to ACA 60,000 members in ACA60,000 members in ACA 13,000 in ASCA13,000 in ASCA

StatusStatus

What is the role of the school What is the role of the school counselor?counselor?

What should the school What should the school counselor do? What should they counselor do? What should they not do?not do?

StatusStatus

Myrick stated: “As a whole, we Myrick stated: “As a whole, we have a poor identity. Even have a poor identity. Even today, we are many things to today, we are many things to many people.”many people.”

“… “… they are miracle workers, they are miracle workers, record keeping and scheduling record keeping and scheduling clerks, ….their own guidance clerks, ….their own guidance program.”program.”

StatusStatus

This inability to identify a clear This inability to identify a clear purpose has placed some purpose has placed some counselors in clerical, counselors in clerical, administrative, and instructional administrative, and instructional roles, diminishing their value in roles, diminishing their value in school.school.

StatusStatus

In contrast, by developing a clear In contrast, by developing a clear understanding of their purpose, understanding of their purpose, school counselors can establish school counselors can establish a philosophical basis on which to a philosophical basis on which to build a credible program.build a credible program.

StatusStatus

In the past, school counselors In the past, school counselors have been willing to be viewed have been willing to be viewed as “support personnel.” as “support personnel.” Accepting the “support role” Accepting the “support role” instead of the “essential role” instead of the “essential role” allows others to define the role, allows others to define the role, assign functions, dictate the assign functions, dictate the mission, and design the program. mission, and design the program.

EXERCISES:

1. Professional identity is an important issue for school counselors. If you were hired by a school tomorrow as its new counselor, what five actions would you take to begin establishing a professional identity? Discuss and compare your actions with a group of your classmates.

Discuss factors and events that influenced your decision to enter or consider the counseling profession

Select and write down any historic leader’s name. In 15 minutes, describe how the leader would have benefited from counseling at some particular point of his/her career.

ExercisesExercises

Review the ASCA role statement (see Review the ASCA role statement (see Appendix A in Cobia & Henderson) and Appendix A in Cobia & Henderson) and identify any aspects that are different identify any aspects that are different from the previous preceptions of a from the previous preceptions of a school counselor’s role. Reflecting on school counselor’s role. Reflecting on these differences, speculate about how these differences, speculate about how you came to hold these beliefs. How you came to hold these beliefs. How might your awareness of these might your awareness of these preconceptions influence your training preconceptions influence your training experiences?experiences?