The principal-school counselor relationship and school climate were explored with 279 high school principals in this quantitative study. Pearson's correlations revealed the principal-counselor relationship was significantly positively correlated with three dimensions of school climate: collegial leadership, professional teacher behavior, and…

Although school counselors are tasked with assisting others with emotional and mental health needs, there is a paucity of research that examines the training and development of school counselors in self-compassion interventions to handle their own emotional and mental health needs in leadership situations. To address the gap in the literature, a…

All too often policymakers have called upon teachers to attend to youth mental health in the classroom and school counselors have largely been left out of the discussion. The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Model (2019) advocates for the practicing role of school counselors in providing direct service to youth. The Coalition model…

The COVID-19 crisis has caused a major disruption to students and staff within schools. As a result, COVID-19 has likely had a negative impact on mental health. This study investigated via an online survey, the mental health impact of the COVID-19 crisis on school counselors, teachers, and school social workers. In addition, the study examined…

While rural students have increased barriers to college and career development than non-rural students and lower educational outcomes, limited research exists on influences on rural career development. Rural males indicate lower college and career aspirations than rural females and are at risk of reduced career outcomes. This study utilizes…

In order to support adolescent girls' social and emotional development, school counselors need to understand girls' current experiences and developmental needs. Researchers used phenomenological methodology to explore the experiences of 11 girls in Generation Z. They further examined girls' interactions with their high school counselors including…

A growing body of research recognizes animal-assisted interventions (AAI) for increased benefits to students in a range of emotional and psychological needs. In this grounded theory study, researchers investigated students' experiences of AAI framed by the American School Counseling Association (2014) Mindset & Behavior Standards. Results…

In the last decade, Colorado has increased its efforts and requirements around postsecondary and workforce readiness through the implementation of Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP) in high schools (CDE, 2009; CDE, 2014; CDE, 2020). Although based on career development research, no studies have inquired as to the meaning students make…

School counselors need creative interventions to engage students in small groups. With students' interests changing quickly, one thing that has remained constant has been a fascination with comic books. They offer an enjoyable and creative way to engage children with stories that resonate with them. Additionally, bibliotherapy is an accessible and…

With school reform efforts underway, students in foster care are in sharper focus as a subgroup and districts are now being held accountable for academic achievement for these youth. School counselors play a key role in the effort to increase rates of postsecondary enrollment and are often a primary support for academic planning, resource…

School counselors often experience high levels of stress that may result from a variety of factors including multiple job responsibilities, role ambiguity, high caseloads, limited clinical supervision, and exposure to students who have experienced trauma (DeMato & Curcio, 2004; Lambie, 2007; McCarthy et al., 2010; Rumsey, 2017; Mullen &…

Researchers analyzed data from a national sample of American School Counselor Association (ASCA) members practicing in elementary, middle, secondary, or K-12 school settings (N = 4,598) to test the underlying structure of the School Counseling Program Implementation Survey (SCPIS). Using both confirmatory and bifactor analyses, results suggested…

As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents become apparent, school counselors and educators must work together to identify students who may be suffering. As a student advocate and leader within their schools, school counselors are in an optimal position to offer interventions and strategies that may be helpful to students,…

School counselors have been called to be leaders in K-12 schools (ASCA, 2012; Education Trust National Center for Transforming School Counseling, 2009). School counseling leadership emphasizes the promotion of equitable academic achievement, career development and social/emotional development for all students. To do this, school counselors must be…

Limited research exists on rural student academic aspirations from a counseling perspective. Much of the existing research focuses on the high school years and their implications for college. This study explores the relationship between place attachment, academic self-efficacy, and academic aspirations in rural elementary students. The sample…