The School Counseling Profession CHAPTER 1

GOAL To introduce readers to the school counseling profession and present our ideas for building a comprehensive school counseling program.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROFESSION The school counseling profession began as individual manifestations of the Progressive Reform Movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The profession is most clearly depicted today by the American School Counselor Association’s National Model for School Counseling Programs. In 2014, the ASCA School Counselor of the Year was honored at the White House.

Standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) CACREP provides the most universal set of standards for training school counselors. The four primary CACREP standards for 2016 include: Foundation for school counseling Contextual dimensions of school counseling Knowledge and skill requirements for school counseling Clinical instruction

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS School counseling is a part of two larger applied professions: counseling and education. Profession has service orientation. Profession is regulated by ethical codes. Profession has system of rewards in place. Professional culture is perpetuated via consistent training programs.

COUNSELING IN THE CONTEXT OF EDUCATION The primary actors in creating and maintaining the school’s environment are the administrators and teachers. Teachers will influence the school environment heavily because they are the largest single group of professionals in a school. Counselors often need to advocate with administrators and educate teachers about the mission of counseling in the schools.

THE PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS School counselors must know what they should be doing. School counselors should advocate for themselves and their profession. School counselors provide leadership in helping colleagues and administrators discover better ways to get things done.

DEALING WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR NONCOUNSELING FUNCTIONS Scheduling Discipline Secretarial and clerical tasks Fair share duties Substitute teaching

PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY Advocate for your profession and your position. Demonstrate that the services we provide are necessary and effective. Keep informed about and advocate about the state of education at the federal, state, and local levels.

REFLECTING ABOUT BECOMING A SCHOOL COUNSELOR What are your reasons for becoming a professional school counselor? Survey a sample of school counselors and ask them how they educate their principal, teachers, staff, and parents about their roles. Interview two school counselors about their daily tasks and how they manage their time. Ask if they engage in any noncounseling-related duties and how they navigate those situations with the principal.

APPLICATION TO TECHNOLOGY Create a professional website and add pieces of your comprehensive school counseling program components as they are developed. Add your professional mission statement to your website.