This article explores school counselors' experiences of the 2017 Sonoma Complex wildfires. Thirty-eight school counselors completed a 20-item survey exploring impact and responses to the devastating wildfires. Results detail school counselors' insights regarding post-fire responses and the impact of the fires on students, families, and school…

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…

A plethora of educational research suggests that first-generation college students (FGCS) are at a distinct disadvantage when attempting to access college. Much of the research on this population examines the struggles these students face. Using a phenomenological approach, this qualitative study investigated lived experiences of ten…

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.

Collaboration between school counselors and families has increasingly been identified as a benefit to student success and well-being. This expansion of roles is reflected within school counseling standards as families and parents comprise one-third of the types of collaboration promoted by the ASCA National Model. Further, ASCA's program…

This article explores 210 Latinx high school student's perceptions of school counseling activities. Using content analysis, researchers analyzed students' written answers regarding their perceptions of school counseling activities. The researchers found that Latinx students believed academic and career interventions as most important, while those…

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…

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…

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…

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 &…