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,…

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…

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…

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…

According to the American School Counselor Association, the role of a school counselor includes improving success for all students. Thus, the profession of school counseling encompasses a variety of tasks, duties, and responsibilities. One of the most fundamental responsibilities of a school counselor is to provide individual counseling to…

This study investigated the impact of a multicomponent training program on the American School Counselor Association's National Model of school counseling. The model was designed to enhance school counselors' competence in implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. An ABA single case design was used to collect baseline, training, and…

Animal-assisted interventions intentionally incorporate the power of the human-animal bond into the therapeutic process. Research findings indicate that therapy dog programs can reduce student stress and build connections within the school, strengthening student response to school-based interventions and providing a foundation to achieve a diverse…

The three-factor model structure of the School Counseling Program Implementation Survey was tested with a national sample (N=275) of school counselors. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested a modified two-factor model was the most appropriate fit. Implications and future research for the school counseling profession are discussed.

Substance use among school-aged young people is of concern as it relates to student success. School counselors have an opportunity to prevent, educate, and counsel students about substance use. Various models of school counseling, including the ASCA National Model, have encouraged the development of competency-based programs that help students…

As the integration of technology into schools is becoming prevalent, school counselors and educators must work together to identify students who may be suffering from digital addiction. As a student advocate and leader within their schools, school counselors are in an optimal position to educate school staff, students, and community members on the…

In the US, school attendance is mandated for refugee children. These children endure sudden immersion and must acculturate into this novel culture, whose customs often vastly diverge from their native culture's values. Refugee children often struggle with acculturation-related mental health issues, such as internalizing significantly clashing…

Response to intervention (RTI) is a process used to identify academic, behavioral, and/or social-emotional supports for students with school related concerns. School counselors often serve on this team as supporters, interveners, advocates, and facilitators. English learners present unique language, access and identification challenges to RTI.…

Motivational interviewing (Miller & Rollnick, 2012) and the transtheoretical model of change (Prochaska, Norcross, & DiClimente, 2007) offer potential considerable benefits to professional school counselors' efforts to promote academic development. We describe how these models can be used by professional school counselors in the provision…

School counselors frequently face ethical dilemmas. These dilemmas often involve relationships with principals, parents, and other stakeholders. School counselors may confront complex ethical issues involving confidentiality, student safety, parental rights,and social media. The American School Counselor Association recommends following an ethical…

Children living in poverty face challenges progressing through the educational system prepared adequately for college and/or career (ACT, 2015; Newell, 2013). With momentum gained through national movements, such as the First Lady Michele Obama's 2014 Reach Higher initiative, and state initiatives on college and career readiness, a call has been…