School Counseling Topics and Theories

Shaping students' lives, reforming current educational systems, and helping to create a better future for all. This is the reason for school counselors to exist in our schools.



However, as simple as our goals for students are to explain, the road to achievement is not nearly as transparent. School counselors need comprehensive knowledge of various concepts, theories, practices and methods in order to be able to create counseling strategies, evaluation procedures and assessments.
The following are a list of practices, concepts and basic encompassing topics school counselors are familiar with:

• Human Growth and Development
• Individual Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Social & Cultural Issues in School Counseling
• Academic Achievement
• Evaluation of Student Progress
• School Counseling Program Evaluation

With the above mentioned conceptual and practical tools, school counselors are going to be paving the way toward a brighter future.
School counseling is one area where assessments and increasing accountability is helping to create a more progressive educational environment. When student psychology began to take a more prominent role in schools, school counselors and psychologists started to appear as education's version of a research and development department. For any entity seeking advancement in their field, a comprehensive R&D program is absolutely essential.
You can learn more about acquiring these skills by contacting schools offering mental health counseling, school counseling and psychology degree programs.

s a counselor, you have been trained to use a variety of methods to evaluate and advise students. There is no one-size-fits-all theory or strategy that applies to all circumstances. In their book "Intentional Interviewing and Counseling," Allen E. Ivey, Mary Bradford Ivey and Carlos Zalaquett focus on three approaches--person-centered, behavioral and solution-oriented--that can be easily implemented in both elementary and secondary schools. In person-centered counseling, the counselor focuses on the person and less on the problem. Behavioral counseling, one of the most widely accepted techniques, deals primarily with action and doing. The solution-oriented approach requires very few sessions; it emphasizes solutions rather than problems.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Recognize the problem. Before any effective counseling can occur, the counselor must pay close attention to what constitutes normal behavior for the student and intervene when there is a significant change.
   • 2
     Listen to the whole student. When you first meet with him, carefully observe non-verbal cues like gestures, facial expressions and changes in posture. Listen for the underlying feelings, cultural differences and any barriers the student may attempt to erect.
   • 3
     Restate what the student is saying. It is very important for her to hear herself talk and know that you are listening. Parents love their children but do not always listen very carefully and, as a result, misunderstandings can occur.
   • 4
     Reflect the student's feelings. His feelings are usually stronger and more meaningful than his words. Encourage him to use his feelings as a springboard to action. You could ask, "What can you do tomorrow to feel less angry towards your friend?"
   • 5
     Ask open-ended questions to encourage more responses from quiet or shy students, especially adolescents. If she has indicated a career interest in science, you might ask "What do you like about science?" To encourage a student, you might ask, "How can you continue to improve in math class?"
   • 6
     Role-play with the student. It could be a parent-child conversation, a confrontation with a friend or a job interview. You can play the part of the parent, friend or employer so that the student can practice his skills. Alternatively, you could play the part of the student in order to model appropriate behaviors.
   • 7
     Tap into the student's imagination. If the session stalls, ask her to envision a desired outcome. If she has problems with her mother, ask her to imagine taking a day trip to a nearby attraction. A student experiencing academic difficulties could visualize getting all As on her report card. This diversion creates a break and alters the direction of the session.
   • 8
     Avoid too much intensity: pause at different points throughout the session and say, "Now, let's see if I can summarize everything you have said so far." Meanwhile, you can check your notes and the student can take a few breaths.
   • 9
     Work together to set achievable goals. Many children and adolescents have difficulty with goal-setting; they rely on parents and teachers to direct and control their activities. Towards the end of each session, decide on a task that can be completed almost immediately after the session.