This study explored the personal and professional needs of novice school counselors and the ways in which they feel mattered through qualitative methodology. Findings revealed that mattering manifested through interactions with administrators, positive student connections and student success, and collaborations with others. Factors that reduced…

Role changes in the profession of school counseling take considerable time to be enacted in practice. The purpose of the study in this article is to examine whether newly hired elementary school counselors working in urban settings can implement (a) new directions for practice that have emerged in the recent school counseling literature (i.e., a…

Professional school counselors face the challenge of delivering guidance and counseling services to students while connecting to the educational mission of schools. This article is a summary and evaluation of a small group counseling program that targets academic issues while addressing personal/social issues with elementary-aged children. Results…

A psychometric study with more than 2,800 upper-elementary-age students examined the reliability and factorial validity of the My Class Inventory-Short Form (MCI-SF). Factor analytic and structural equation modeling results suggested that the original measure is a less than satisfactory approach to appraise various dimensions of classroom climate.…

The assessment of students' counseling needs is an integral component of development and implementation of an effective school counseling program is widely recognized. Unfortunately, this mandate has been hindered by lack of a psychometrically sound measure of students; counseling needs. This article describes the Intermediate Elementary Students…

Leading scholars in the school counseling profession have argued that counselors must show student growth across these developmental domains: academic, career, and personal-social. This study explores the premise that schools need to realign their counseling interventions and services within the context of a comprehensive school counseling program…

Describes an intervention designed to help elementary students reduce test anxiety is described. The intervention was administered following benchmark tests to 16 students who had not met the passing rate in the tests or who had exhibited or reported extreme feelings of anxiety and stress. A reduction in stress and worry regarding future testing…

Surveys the actual and perceived role elementary school counselors in North Carolina have in working with students with disabilities. Data reveals that many school counselors acquired some formal education about students with disabilities prior to entering the profession, yet many have found the demands for them to possess expertise in this domain…

Researches the efficacy of reality therapy and solution- focused brief counseling with elementary school students engaging in off-task behavior and demonstrates the utility of a single- participant design in conducting counseling research. Significant positive changes in the on-task behaviors of the students resulted from both approaches.…

This article addresses the effects of disasters on elementary-age children and their needs for mental health. Suggests possible school-based interventions and provides a case study of a traumatized first-grader, demonstrating how child- centered play therapy can be used in school settings. (Contains 57 references.) (GCP)

Study surveys practicing school counselors in order to explore the activities they engage in for students with disabilities and how prepared they feel to perform those activities. Also examines recent trends in school counselor education related to students with disabilities. (Contains 26 references and 3 tables.) (GCP)

This study sought to learn more about student perceptions during the transition from elementary to middle school. In response to students' concerns, it is suggested that school counselors implement preventive or proactive programming to assist students with the elementary to middle school transition. (Contains 22 references.) (GCP)

Professional counselors must assume the responsibility for the continued expansion and growth of the counseling profession. Article provides counselors with practical strategies to strengthen their public image and promote more positions and programming, particularly, at the elementary level. Background information is included on public relations,…

Evaluates the revised editions of the Self-Efficacy Scale for use with children in schools. Addresses the reliability and validity of the two versions of the scale. Proposes counseling interventions to increase student self-efficacy. (Contains 22 references, 1 table, and an appendix.) (GCP)

Details the work of Claudia Vangstad who expanded the range of the MRI approach to transform a school culture. Vangstad significantly increased her effectiveness not by limiting applications of the MRI problem-solving approach to individuals, but rather by expanding the range of approach to include larger units: psychoeducational groups,…