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A Phenomenological Study Exploring Secondary School Counselors’ Perceptions Of Implementing Social And Emotional Learning (Sel) Within Their School Setting, Rhonda Lindsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social and emotional learning (SEL) has become a standard practice in public education due to the many social and mental health challenges faced by young people. Teachers have been directed to incorporate SEL lessons daily, which sometimes can be a challenge to facilitate when having to teach core instruction. However, secondary school counselors are trained to facilitate SEL as part of their comprehensive school counseling programs and the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) national model. Unfortunately, they experience challenges with facilitation. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study was to analyze the lived experiences of secondary school counselors’ implementation …

The Experiences Of Multilingual Learning-Focused School Counselors: A Phenomenological Investigation, Chelsea Jo Hilliard

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Equity in education has become increasingly prioritized, due to the growing mainstream recognition of the inequitable practices that historically have and presently continue to exist in K-12 education. With the K-12 student population diversity continuously increasing in areas such as abilities, race/ethnicities, socioeconomic status, languages, immigration status, and more, ensuring equitable access to education is vital. One such unique student group needing equitable access to education are multilingual learners or MLL. Located within schools, school counselors are uniquely positioned to equitably serve MLL students. Overall, while the research on school counselors serving MLL students (at the pre-service and practice level) …

Embedding Grief And Loss Training Across Cacrep-Core Areas In School Counseling Programs, Katherine M. Wood, C.Missy Moore, Jolie Ziomek-Daigle

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Each year, millions of school-aged children and teens experience grief and loss (Judi’s, 2023). This conceptual article describes the impact of grief and loss on school-aged children and the need to integrate grief and loss training into CACREP-accredited programs through the eight-core CACREP areas. Using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, the authors will highlight how counselor educators can infuse content to address grief and loss with preservice school counselors holistically across the various systems surrounding the student in each CACREP core area.

Teachers’ Referral Practices: Opportunities For School Counselor Advocacy, Maggie Parker, Alex Ostrander, Emily Decker, Sarah Ray

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

Using Consensual Qualitative Research, researchers examined teachers’ experiences in the student referral process, specifically how they determined when and to whom a referral should be made. Results indicate that teachers actively work to engage students and families in strong relationships to avoid referrals and that certain behaviors are more likely to result in specific referrals (e.g., externalizing to discipline). Implications for school counselors and school counseling advocacy and limitations of this study are discussed.

Effect Of A School Counselor Training On Self-Efficacy In Crisis Handling, Carleton H. Brown, Eunae Han

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

We presented a 4-hour training program designed to enhance school counselors’ self-efficacy in handling school crises, with a specific focus on school shootings. Employing a pretest-posttest research design using the School Counselor Response to Violent Crisis Questionnaire, we found that the training was effective in improving the self-efficacy of participants (n = 35) in crisis handling. We discovered, in our pilot study, that crisis training specifically tailored to school counselors can be effective in enhancing their self-efficacy in crisis handling. We discuss our study’s implications for school counselors, workshop leaders, school leaders, and researchers.

Identifying The Current State Of Practice Utilized By School Counselors And School Psychologists In Facilitating Divorce Groups In Elementary Schools, Stephanie Harris

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Divorce is considered an adverse childhood experience (ACE) and may lead to a number of negative outcomes for children involved. Research has demonstrated that these children may have higher amounts of internalizing difficulties, externalizing difficulties, as well as lower academic performance. The present study analyzes the current state of practice surrounding divorce groups for elementary aged children within a county of a Southeastern state. The researcher gathered data by providing an online, anonymous survey by attending department meetings for school counselors and school psychologists. The data revealed that several facets of how these groups are facilitated align with evidence-based practice; …

Identification Of Lacking Support Systems Relevant To The Job Performance Of School Counselors, Claire Patricia Selna

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone report displays a comprehensive report about the struggles and demands of school counselors and how various factors such as: the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) code of ethics and standards, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and school counselor advocacy and support, all play a part in school counselors daily lives. This report also describes the use of intersectionality theory with all of the previously stated factors, allowing researchers to better understand the complexity of the role of school counselor. Knowing these factors, this report asks: What support systems most impact the job performance of school counselors? In order to …

The Perceived Role Of School Counselors In Ramp And Non-Ramp Schools, Rob Rhodes

All Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceived roles of elementary and secondary school counselors within schools with comprehensive school counseling programs and those without such programs. Central to this study are questions of how school counselors’ roles are perceived differently within Recognized ASCA Models Program (RAMP) schools and non-RAMP schools. I this study, I examined the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Professional Mindsets and Behaviors (see Appendix 1), as outlined in the ASCA National Model (ASCA, 2012), as well as school counselors’ professional practices and perceived roles in RAMP and non-RAMP schools.

Through interviews and comparative analysis, …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors Related To Natural Disaster Trauma, Jennifer Baxley Bellinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand and describe the lived experiences of school counselors in South Carolina regarding natural disaster trauma and their perceptions regarding their ability to work effectively with students during and after disasters. The experiences of school counselors regarding their perceptions of effectiveness when working with students both during and after natural disasters prior to this study were unknown. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model provided the framework for this study as it outlines the necessary preparation for and execution of a school counselor’s work with students, while Herman’s trauma theory and …

An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis: School Counselor Trainees' Experience In Peer Group Supervision, Jill Minor, Neil Duchac

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

An Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to explore school counselor trainees’ lived experiences in peer group supervision while in a field practicum course. Utilizing seven participants, four superordinate themes were discovered including organization of the learning environment, understanding, believing, and skill development. Additionally, several sub-themes were found from their experiences. The findings shed light on how peer group supervision is beneficial to school counselors. Authors make recommendations and suggestions for training and practice of counselor educators.

Burnout, Self-Care, And Supervision In Middle School Counselors, Sarah L. Evans Zalewski

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study examines middle school counselor supervision types in relation to burnout and self-care scores. The impact of supervision via technology on self-care and burnout scores was considered. This study found that school counselors who received both administrative and clinical supervision fared better on the incompetence domain of burnout, that self-care was inversely proportional to burnout, and that receiving supervision via technological means had no impact on either burnout or self-care.

Self-Efficacy And Caseload As Predictors Of School Counselor Burnout, Marcos G. Casares

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School counselors are faced with many job duties, including supporting students’ academic, career, and emotional needs; maintaining these duties can increase stress and lead to burnout. The need to provide high-quality services to students, along with a high caseload, may be associated with the self-efficacy beliefs of school counselors and the possibility of burnout. However, there has been little to no interest in researching the subject of burnout, and its causes and outcomes concerning school counselors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to fill this gap in the literature by examining the relationship between school counselor burnout, specifically, the …

School Counselor Multicultural Counseling Competence Assessed By State School Counselor Licensure Examinations, Qi Shi, John Carey

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

This study is the first systematic examination of how school counselor multicultural counseling competence (MCC) is addressed in state licensure examinations of school counselors. Results offer preliminary support to the notion that state licensure examinations indeed address some important aspects of MCC as identified by Holcomb-McCoy (2004). Yet considerable variability exists across examinations in the percentage of content devoted to these commonly addressed areas. Quantitative content analysis shows there are several important aspects of school counselor MCC are not being tested in state examinations. Discussions and implications are provided.

Using Flipgrid Discussions To Increase School Counseling Students’ Cultural Competence In The Online Classroom, Rebekah F. Cole

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

This pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design study investigated the use of Flipgrid to increase school counseling students’ cultural competence, which was measured by the Global Perspectives Inventory (GPI). Student participants in the experimental group utilized Flipgrid to engage in cultural discussions while participants in the control group utilized Blackboard discussion boards. An independent samples and paired-samples t-test were used to analyze the participants’ scores in the experimental and control groups. The statistically significant findings of the paired samples t-test suggest the effectiveness of utilizing Flipgrid in order to increase students’ cultural competence in the online learning environment. The study’s implications for teaching …

A Study Concerning Factors That Contribute To School Counselors' Self-Efficacy, Cory J. Neal

MSU Graduate Theses

Many school districts and states still require that school counselors have previous teaching experience before one can begin a career in school counseling. There is little to no data to support these claims and the data that is available does not include how the school counselor’s own previous experiences influence their self-efficacy in their current roles. The data for this study was collected through an online survey sent to school counselors in Missouri. The qualitative data was evaluated using a grounded theory approach while the quantitative data was analyzed through a series of t-tests for independent samples, with group membership …

School Counseling In An Oppressed Society: Examining The Relationships Between Social Justice Advocacy Competence, Empowerment, And Social Justice Self-Efficacy, Michelle Tanner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current nature of oppression that exists in the United States can be seen in the structure and process of American schools, impacting students’ social/emotional, academic, and career development. The defined role of school counselors along with their educational background; strategic position within schools to make meaningful change; access to critical student, teacher, family, and community data; and their professional dispositions and experience make them the most logical choice to help remove systemic barriers and to create equitable opportunities for the marginalized students. School counselors must work as social justice advocates to lead these diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; however, …

Novice Professional School Counselor Development: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Supports And Resources, Lynn M. O'Brien

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Novice School Counselors face many challenges during their first years in the profession and may be unaware of the supports and resources that are available. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of novice professional school counselors to shed light on reported supports and resources that assist novice school counselors in their professional development. For this study, eight novice professional school counselors participated, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Each participant interview was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four themes emerged through the data analysis: (a) sources of influence, (b) coping with adversity, (c) sense of …

Adolescent Substance Use Identification And Early Interventions: A Guide For School Counseling Professionals, Olivia Gullickson

Counselor Education Capstones

The purpose for this proposed literature review is to assess a variety of different substance use intervention programs and their effectiveness within a school setting. Based on current research provided by the Monitoring the Future Survey (2019), adolescent substance use continues to be on the rise and school-based substance use programs that are currently being utilized are ineffective to students exhibiting substance use and meeting their needs. This literature review also explores the use of parental monitoring interventions to support adolescent substance use in conjunction to school-based prevention programs. Findings from the proposed literature is intended to assist K-12 school …

Us School Counselor State Licensure Requirements For Program Evaluation, Michael S. Trevisan, John C. Carey, Ian Martin, Narayankripa Sundararajan

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

Using qualitative content analysis (Cohen, Manion, & Morrison, 2007), we examined the expectations of states in the US regarding program evaluation content for school counselor licensure. Results show that 43 states maintain some form of program evaluation expectations for licensure, up from the 19 identified by Trevisan (2000). Twenty-eight states require licensure tests that purportedly align with CACREP, ASCA, or maintain a state developed licensure test that measures program evaluation content. Twenty-one states explicitly mention alignment of their curriculum with CACREP, ASCA, or both. The depth and scope of the program evaluation requirements that could be identified are ambiguous and …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers And Mental Health Paraprofessionals Implementing The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Program, Kristi Perryman, Erin Popejoy, Julia Conroy

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

This study examined the lived experience of teachers and mental health paraprofessionals implementing the Jesse Lewis Choose Love curriculum in an alternative school setting. Social emotional learning curriculum implementation within the unique structure of alternative schools is important to investigate in order to better understand the unique needs of those providing services to students in this setting. This study utilized open-ended written prompts and two focus groups with teachers and mental health paraprofessionals for 10 weeks of implementation of this social emotional learning program. Participants reported changes in students and themselves and an increase in group cohesion. Five identified themes …

A Study Of The Overlap Of School Counselor Identity And Duties, Melinda Gibbons, Derick Williams

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Professional school counselors (N=92) across grade levels completed the Professional Identity of School Counselors survey (PISC) online to provide their views of professional identity and the concepts of leadership, collaboration, advocacy, multiculturalism, and the general delivery (e.g., counseling, consulting, individual planning, and guidance curriculum), management (i.e., how school counselors organize their time in meeting student needs), and accountability (e.g., collecting, using, and reporting the results of data) tasks of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. Participants identified advocacy, delivery services, and collaboration as most important to the professional identity of school counselors. None of the top activities were …

Preferred Qualities In High School Counselors, Kirk Zinck, April Hughes, Rachel Oney

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Utilizing focus groups with middle, high school, and university students, this phenomenological study developed a three-faceted perspective on student preferences for the personal and professional qualities of high school counselors. Findings revealed that students value the accessibility of counselors. Informants identified elements of accessibility that include authentic concern, trustworthiness, an interactive presence, unconditional acceptance, and attuned empathy as the primary qualities they prefer in a high school counselor. The findings have implications for the professional development of high school counselors and for those who train, hire, and supervise them.

Guiding The Socio-Emotional Learning Of African American Middle School Girls Through The Perspective Of School Counselors, Towana Hunter

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the perspective of school counselors and how they support African American middle school girls through their SEL challenges. School counselors play a key role in the development of socio-emotional learning (SEL) for all students. SEL supports academic achievement, behaviors, and positive relationship development. Despite success with SEL, socio-emotional gaps remain in the areas of age, gender, and race. In response to addressing these gaps, this study focused on SEL challenges that impact African American middle school girls and how school counselors support them through these challenges. Data for this study was collected through individual interviews …

Mental Health Needs In Schools As Predictors Of Burnout In School Counselors, Sondra Junek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have found an increasing number of students with mental health issues, and

school counselors are often the first resource available to students. School counselors are

faced with many job duties including supporting students’ academic, career, and

emotional needs. Maintaining these duties of school counseling can increase stress and

lead to burnout. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine mental health

needs, mental health knowledge, and mental health skills as predictors of each of the

three subscales of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal

accomplishment) among early, middle, and late career school counselors. Lazarus and

Folkman’s transactional theory …

Cyberbullying Prevention And Intervention: Perspectives Of School Psychologists And School Counselors, Rachel E. Burlet

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Recent studies have found that increasing numbers of students are experiencing cyberbullying during middle and high school. The current study examined how school psychologists and school counselors are involved in the prevention and intervention of cyberbullying as well as what practices their schools are implementing to address this issue. Results found that school counselors were more involved than school psychologists with cyberbullying prevention and intervention efforts. However, 50% of school psychologists felt that their skills were being underutilized and 59% expressed a desire to be more involved in cyberbullying prevention and intervention efforts. Receiving training on cyberbullying was found to …

Examining The Theoretical Framework For The Unique Manifestation Of Burnout Among High School Counselors, Leigh Falls Holman, Lisa Grubbs

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Utilizing a semi-structured interview protocol this study engages in a phenomenological inquiry to examine school counselors’ experiences of job stress and burnout. We specifically explore the use of two different theoretical frameworks for understanding these phenomena, in order to improve our understanding of how to frame future research efforts. We identify themes consistent with the Maslach model of burnout and themes consistent with the Job Demand Control Support (JDCS) theory of job stress. We make recommendations regarding use of the JDCS in future research, as well as discussing avenues for advocacy.

Worrywarts: Alleviating Anxiety Through School Counselor Interventions, Summer Kuba

Faculty Publications and Presentations

If unaddressed, childhood and adolescent anxiety can have a lasting negative impact on students’ social/emotional development, academic success and college/career readiness. School counselors play an integral role in addressing students’ mental health needs. Through evidenced-based interventions, school counselors can effectively promote the skills and attitudes necessary to cope and even overcome childhood anxiety disorders.

Modeling Group Leadership Skills In Classroom Guidance And/Or Class Discussion, Richard Justin Silvey, Rita C. Schellenberg, Kerry Bowles

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this session is to define and explore the use of group leadership skills as a way to engage students in both classroom guidance as a school counselor and/or classroom discussions as a counselor educator. Participants will learn to recognize and reflect on their use of various group leadership skills.

Estimating Wasi Iq Scores To Assist In Identifying Elementary School Gifted Students, Debra Garrett Pregler

Dissertations

Identifying gifted students early is important so they may receive adaptations in their learning environment including admittance into gifted programs (Subotnik, Olszweski-Kubilius, & Worrell, 2012). An effective method to increase the likelihood of identifying gifted students is needed (Pfeiffer, 2003). Admission at the elementary level primarily uses the individually-administered intelligence test; yet, the test is only administered to students nominated to the gifted program. The purpose of this study was to determine if individually-administered IQ test scores were related to specific information available to the elementary school counselor to aid in the determination of unidentified gifted elementary school students who …

Professional School Counselors And High School Graduation : Does Assigned School Counselor Correlate With Students' Rate Of Graduation?, Dawn Marie Horton

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

High school counselors are coming under increased pressure to demonstrate both their effectiveness in supporting individual students’ success in school and their ability to provide effective comprehensive school counseling programs. The evidence based research on effective school counseling practices is limited, and additional research is needed to assist practitioners in their work. An important area of concern is the work school counselors do to assist students in achieving graduation. Limited research has been focused on whether school counselors actually impact their students’ graduation rates. In this current research, the graduation rates of students assigned to school counselors were examined to …