School attendance is a complex topic for all school stakeholders preparing students for college and career success. Students who refuse to attend or avoid school are affected or influenced by a myriad of reasons such as their own physical or mental health issues. This article explores the various factors at the root of school refusal, particularly…

School counselors are uniquely qualified to meet the increasing mental health needs of students within the school setting. Play therapy is an evidence-based intervention used by school counselors to address the mental health needs of youth. Job demands require school counselors to provide goal-focused and time-sensitive interventions. Accordingly,…

In this phenomenological study, ten school counselors-in-training were interviewed to explore their experiences at a school-based clinical practicum. Emergent themes included professional growth and development, collaboration and teamwork, knowledge gains, and preparation. Results of the study indicate that a school-based clinical practicum…

This article outlines the challenges that military-connected students face and discusses ways in which school counselors may utilize each of the four components of the ASCA National Model to help this population. Finally, a case study is presented to demonstrate how school counselors may support military-connected students. Utilizing the ASCA…

School counselors are in a unique position to support the development and success of student refugees. This article presents a multi-tiered systemic approach for school counselors to enhance the social/emotional, academic, and career development of student refugees in K-12 schools. The article elaborates on culturally sensitive practical…

Professional school counselors have the expectation and responsibility to provide career development to elementary school children. This resource brief presents 13 career-oriented children's storybooks with nine corresponding classroom activity suggestions.

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…

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…

This study examined professional school counselor and principal recognition of appropriate and inappropriate activities of professional school counselors. Researchers investigated the differences in recognition between professional school counselors and principals serving at various educational levels. Results showed differences in what…

This Brief Resource addresses anxiety and the dire impact anxiety has on student well-being and performance. Anxiety prevents students from focusing, concentrating, feeling safe, grounded, and at ease. There are immeasurable numbers of students who are experiencing anxiety during this pandemic. Social Emotional Learning works to enhance students'…

Collaboration in the school setting is a vital component to student success. Two key stakeholders who support and advocate for English Learners (ELs) are school counselors and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers. The authors of this manuscript conducted a research study to measure school counselor and ESOL teacher perceptions…

School counselors are encouraged to employ evidence-based practices to meet students' mental health needs, yet a scarcity of outcome research limits their access to adequately supported prevention and intervention resources (Griffith et al., 2019). To maximize their impact and time, school counselors should consider conducting group counseling…

Unrecognized grief (also called disenfranchised grief) is an emotion experienced when a loss is not socially supported, mourned, or acknowledged (Doka, 1989). Elementary students often experience unrecognized grief when relationships with friends, family, teachers, support professionals, and pets change or end. While these developments are often a…

Students with disabilities are at greater risk for depression, substance use, bullying, and fewer friendships, largely due to negative attitudes and misperceptions from their nondisabled peers. School counselors are particularly important stakeholders in improving the experiences of students with disabilities. This qualitative study uses the…

Because sexual minorities are an at-risk population, researchers conducted retrospective life story interviews with 191 sexual minority people comprising participants from a marriage equality cohort, an HIV/AIDS epidemic cohort, and a Stonewall rebellion cohort. The participants were located within 80 miles of four major metropolitan areas in the…