Student Counseling and Personnel Services Commons^™

A Narrative-Restorative Framework For Addressing School Bullying, Tristan Patel, Michelle Myers, Daniel Stewart

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Bullying in schools is often addressed through punitive deterrence practices, solution-focused counseling, or restorative conferencing. These approaches often fail to recognize or account for the power imbalance that ultimately sustains bullying. This article discusses a narrative-restorative intervention to address bullying as a relational and communal issue, rather than relying on isolation or deterrence practices. The limitations of the dominant models discussed highlight the role of power in shaping bullying dynamics and connect legal and ethical responsibilities of narrative-restorative practices. Situated within the framework of California education law and professional ethical standards, at its core, undercover anti-bullying teams aim to redistribute …

Supporting Every Student: Optimizing School-Based Mental Health Services For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Sarah K. Eggleston

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Youth with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at considerably greater risk of developing mental health problems compared with the general population; however, their needs are less likely to be identified, and they often face barriers to accessing quality mental health care. School-based mental health professionals (SBMHPs) are uniquely positioned to support students within their natural learning environments, where many common barriers to service provision have been removed. The present study examined the current state of practice among SBMHPs in Virginia in identifying and supporting the needs of students with ID, as well as SBMHPs’ training experiences. An online cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey …

Exploring School Counselors’ Use Of Community Cultural Wealth To Support Latine Students’ Stem Aspirations: An Interpretative Phenomenological Approach, Valerie Leija, Eunice Lerma, Javier Cavazos Vela

Human Development and School Services Faculty Publications

Despite growing diversity across many professions, Latine individuals remain underrepresented in the STEM workforce. School counselors are uniquely positioned to help eliminate these disparities by empowering Latine students to pursue STEM career pathways. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how school counselors capitalize on Latine students’ community cultural wealth to support them in pursuing postsecondary STEM opportunities. We conducted 50-90-minute interviews with eight school counselors from South Texas to explore their lived experiences supporting Latine students with STEM aspirations. Interview transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The following themes emerged: (a) linguistically responsive practices, (b) …

Necessary, But Insufficient: School Counselors’ Informal Learning Experiences With Writing Letters Of Recommendations, Mandy Savitz-Romer, Tara Nicola, Julius Dilorenzo, Jen Ha, Amy Desiderio, Sebastian Munoz Galvez, Matthew O'Brien

Journal of College Access

Submission of recommendation letters from high school counselors is a requirement for undergraduate admission at many selective colleges. However, there has been limited research to-date examining these critical application components and the front-line professionals who generate them. This study examines how high school counselors, who are key actors in holistic admission practices, learn how to craft recommendation letters. Given previous research has found that counselors have limited training in college admission counseling, understanding the learning processes that shape their letter writing is a critical first step for improving the quality of letters and their utility for student success in the …

Intersectionality Of Race And Disability: The School Counselors' Role In Policy Reformation, Jenna M. Alvarez, Rachel Saunders, Vanessa Sinclair, Stephanie Smith-Durkin, Emily Goodman-Scott

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The United States K-12 education system is riddled with inequities within the intersection of race and disabilities; relatedly, the school counseling literature also demonstrates a similar gap in the literature. As a result, through three case illustrations highlighting the unique experiences of historically marginalized students of color with disabilities, we illustrate the multiplex intersection of race and disability and how a school counselor can utilize leadership, advocacy, and social justice for systemic change. Further, the three cases are structured through the ADDRESSING framework, to systematically consider the complexities of identity, overlapping cultural influences, and the connections to practice (Hays, 2022). …

Peaceful School Counselors For School Violence In The Digital Era, Ahmad Yusuf Sobri, Nur Mega Aris Saputra, Dzulkifli Abdullah

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

The problem of violence that occurs in the world of education is a manifestation of the incomplete realization of schools as safe places. One strategy to make this happen is through the implementation of peace education in schools that involves all school members. School counselors are one of the key roles needed for the implementation of peace education in schools. This study aims to find out the role of school counselors in implementing peace education in schools. The study is a systematic literature review using the PRISMA stages. Fifteen academic articles were selected based on the main keywords: peace education …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors, Job Burnout, And The Blurred Lines Of The Profession, Cecilia Angelica Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study explores the lived experiences of school counselors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on job burnout, role ambiguity, and the blurred lines of the profession. Through semi-structured interviews with practicing school counselors, the study identifies common themes including role overload, manifestations of burnout, coping and resilience strategies, and the impact of administrative support. Findings highlight the systemic factors contributing to counselor stress and the importance of self-care, peer collaboration, and role clarity for counselor well-being and student outcomes.

Connecting With The Counselors: Innovative Approaches To Enhance The Recruitment Of Male Students In Secondary Schools, Andrew Richards, Stephanie Gedzyk-Nieman

Achieve

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2019) recognized the role of a culturally diverse workforce in improving the quality and cultural competence of care. The AACN identified the need to attract students from underrepresented groups, including men. According to the results of the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, only 9.4% of registered nurses in the United States are men, a 2.8% increase from 2013 (Smiley et al., 2021). The 2020 United States Census reported that 49.5% of the population is male (United States Census Bureau, 2020). A significant effort is needed to increase the percentage of men in …

"Every Direction We Turn, It’S A Wall”: North Carolina School Counselors And Their Advocacy And Support For Undocumented Students’ Access To Higher Education, Wendy Eberhart Cook

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

High school counselors in North Carolina assist with post-secondary planning for all their students, including the approximately 3,000 undocumented students who graduate from North Carolina schools each year (Zong & Batalova, 2019). Access to post-secondary education is difficult to attain for undocumented students (Groce & Johnson, 2021), especially true for undocumented students in North Carolina, a state considered hostile to this student population due to tuition and financial aid policy (Mansfield & Hernandez, 2024). Undocumented students also face a fear of deportation, food insecurity, lower socioeconomic conditions, and language barriers (Abrego, 2006).

Despite the many barriers undocumented students face, school …

Providing Specialized Preparation For Counselors In Catholic Schools, Timothy J. Cook, Jan Powers, Jiwon Kim

Journal of Catholic Education Pre-Prints

School counselors are needed now more than ever. Providing Catholic school counselors the specialized formation they need to be effective in the Catholic school context is essential. This study addressed two research questions in this regard: (1) What competencies (e.g., understanding, incorporating) and topics do Catholic school principals and school counselors believe are important for school counselors to fully contribute to the educational and faith-based mission of Catholic schools; and (2) How might the research findings inform pre-service education and/or continuing education and formation of school counselors for the Catholic school context? Online surveys were developed using the “Defining Characteristics …

Factors That Inhibit And Support The Work Of School-Based Mental Health Providers, David B. Naff, Jennifer Murphy, Alexandra Javna, Wyatt Aldrich, Erin Standish, Jeen Joy, Ciana Cross, Sandra Saji

MERC Publications

This research brief comes from the MERC Supporting Mental Health in Schools study. Launched in 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores research-based strategies for supporting mental health in PK-12 school settings, as well as the emotional and professional capacity of PK-12 faculty and staff in the MERC region to support the social and emotional wellness of their students. This brief shares takeaways from a systematic literature review that highlight the factors that inhibit and support the work of school-based mental health providers, including school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists. It outlines the roles …

Providing Specialized Preparation For Counselors In Catholic Schools, Timothy J. Cook, Jan J. Powers, Jiwon Kim

Journal of Catholic Education

School counselors are needed now more than ever. Providing Catholic school counselors the specialized formation they need to be effective in the Catholic school context is essential. This study addressed two research questions in this regard: (1) What competencies (e.g., understanding, incorporating) and topics do Catholic school principals and school counselors believe are important for school counselors to fully contribute to the educational and faith-based mission of Catholic schools; and (2) How might the research findings inform pre-service education and/or continuing education and formation of school counselors for the Catholic school context? Online surveys were developed using the “Defining Characteristics …

School Counselor Perceptions And Practices Advising Male High School Students Regarding A Career In Nursing, Andrew Richards, Stephanie Gedzyk-Nieman

Achieve

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2019) recognized the role of a culturally diverse workforce in improving the quality and cultural competence of care. The AACN identified the need to attract students from underrepresented groups, including men. According to the results of the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, only 9.4% of registered nurses in the United States are men, a 2.8% increase from 2013 (Smiley et al., 2021). The 2020 United States census reported 49.5% of the population is male (United States Census Bureau, 2020). A significant effort is needed to increase the percentage of men in nursing …

What A Way To Spend The Day: A Curated Multiple-Case Study Of College Counselors And Their Guidance Of Prospective Music Majors, Stephen Campbell

Higher Education: Doctoral Research Projects

In the increasingly complex world of college choice, high school counselors are an important resource for college-bound students, yet the environment these counselors find themselves in is one that focuses on questions of value and return on investment, resulting in the elevation of some academic disciplines over others. Using a multiple-case study design and Eisner’s criticism and connoisseurship method, this qualitative study seek to describe how college counselors at Arizona School for the Arts guide prospective music major through college and major choice by exploring how counselors’ backgrounds predisposed them to guiding students through college and major choice, their perception …

Burnout Among Rural Public-School Counselors, Jerry Dooley

Counseling Faculty Research

This study analyzed the risk of burnout for school counselors in rural Appalachia by surveying school counselors in West Virginia. The specific research questions delved into the areas that may predict a higher risk of burnout. These areas were clinical supervision, self-care engagement, levels of education, experience, caseloads, intensity of cases, and peer relationships. Utilizing a quantitative, predictive research design, the researcher asked participants in West Virginia to complete the Professional Quality of Life, version 5 and the Self-Care Assessment for Psychologists instruments as well as a demographic questionnaire to see if those areas could impact the potential risk of …

Surveying The Landscape Of Post-Secondary Options And Support For Undocumented Students In The Pacific Northwest: A View From One State’S School Counselors, Danielle Torres, Alejandra Favela

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

Now more than ever, supportive practices and policies are needed to bolster the opportunities, safety, and future of undocumented students. K-12 school counselors and educators who aim to support the college and career readiness of undocumented youth need to be well informed and prepared to adequately address requests for guidance by students and families. This article seeks to uncover the primary areas of need, support, and resources identified by school counselors in one Pacific Northwest state in order to optimize post-secondary options and success.

The Boy Scouts Of America Merit Badge Program And Career Development, Todd R. Van Auken

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine whether a youth’s career development, as defined by the Career Maturity Inventory (CMI Form C), is associated with motivation, student grade level, and number of merit badges earned as a result of participation as Boy Scouts. For close to three decades there has been a call to improve career counseling for middle and high school youth. However, due to a shortage of school counselors in middle and high schools, counselors are inundated with heavy workloads of various responsibilities and do not always have the ability to focus on youth career development. Thus, …

School Counselors Supporting The Needs Of Homeless Students, Camille Sterrett

Student Theses and Dissertations

This research study describes a quantitative examination of Arkansas school counselors’ perceptions of their knowledge about the McKinney-Vento homeless Assistance Act and how involved they are with partnership practices in meeting the needs of homeless children and families. The study also examined what type of training school counselors have received to work with homeless children, youth and families. The study’s purpose was to examine school counselors’ experiences while working with homeless students. The study explored school counselors’ perceptions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act for homeless children, youth and families in their schools. This study supports the social justice framework …

The Critical Need For Peer Clinical Supervision Among School Counselors, Pamelia E. Brott, Lorraine Dekruyf, Jung H. Hyun, Christopher R. Lafever, Sarah Patterson-Mills, Miriama I. Cook Sandifer, Victoria Stone

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

The ongoing need for clinical supervision of practicing school counselors in the United States has reached a critical point. Given the acute mental health needs of children and adolescents, staggering caseloads, and pandemic repercussions, school counselors often receive insufficient clinical support. Clinical supervision is necessary to safeguard against burnout, promote ethical practice, and encourage continual skill development for school counselors worldwide. Unfortunately, there remains a lack of available clinical supervision, trained supervisors, and practice-based strategies for providing consistent quality supervision for post-master’s school counselors. The authors present a rationale for peer clinical supervision of practicing school counselors in the United …

Academic Match And The Tennessee Promise: Rural High School Counselors’ Perspectives, Charles Painter

Ed.D. Dissertations

The number of Tennessee students increasingly enrolled in postsecondary institutions since the introduction of Tennessee Promise (TN Promise); however, program requirements coupled with counselor behaviors related to TN Promise may lead to academic undermatch. This researcher used a qualitative research design to investigate the responses of high school guidance counselors in rural school districts in East Tennessee. Eight high school counselors participated in the study. Data analysis revealed that high school counselors encourage all eligible students to enroll in TN Promise without considering academic match. High school counselors used implicit actions and activities to enroll students in TN Promise. High …

Predictive Nature Of Teacher Traits On Academic Achievement Of African-American Students, Lacoñia Rayelle Nelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, biases, a lack of cultural diversity in teacher and administrative staff and misunderstanding about methods for teaching low socioeconomic students have related to the underperformance of African-American students when compared with their European American peers. Therefore, this quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the impact of teachers' ethnicity, years of experience, and motives of hope and fear on the academic success of African-American students in reading and math. Data were collected from 55 7th- and 8th-grade teachers from a charter school system (25 reading teachers and 30 math teachers) using a survey and the Multi Motive Grid. Forward …

The Experiences Of School Counseling Directors In Relation To Job Satisfaction And Leadership, Robyn Walsh

Theses and Dissertations

The current literature on school counselor job satisfaction does not address the experiences of school counseling directors. This is a unique set of counselors due to their role as leaders and supervisors in the building. Therefore, this study sought to better understand the experiences of school counseling directors in relation to job satisfaction and leadership. The researcher collected data through 10 interviews with participants having met the criteria of serving as a school counseling director of a middle or high school, supervising a department of at least two counselors, and working in the role for at least two years. Data …

School Counselor Transgender Advocacy Development: An Exploratory Qualitative Study, Jack F. Jacobs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

School counselors have an opportunity to develop as an advocate for their transgender students who face many adversities in life. However, there exists a paucity of research specific to school counselor advocacy and no literature specific to school counselors developing as advocates for transgender students. In an attempt to address the gaps in the literature, the purpose of this qualitative research was to explore how three school counselors in a large urban school district in the southeast United States participating in an inquiry group developed as transgender advocates while completing a passion project. The conceptual framework components of the study …

Improving College-Going Trends For First Generation Latino Students: The Importance Of Habitus, School Culture And Culturally Responsive Counseling, Patricia A. Marchesi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Throughout history, the United States has symbolized a place of opportunity, viewed as a place where achieving a better life is possible. This viewpoint still holds true for Latino immigrants, who currently account for more than half of the country’s population growth since 2000. Latino families and students specifically see higher education as a means by which to attain the proverbial “better life.” However, prior research dedicated to Latino students in the college-going process cites obstacles to enrollment in American colleges and universities. Inadequate academic preparation, language barriers, limited social capital, and restricted access to financial aid are among the …

Analysis Of School Counselor Leadership Practices Through The Lens Of Bolman And Deal’S Four-Framework Model, Patrice Suzette Banks-Rogers

Education Dissertations and Projects

School counselors play an integral role in school reform. School counselor leadership is key to academic, personal/social, and career readiness of all students in a school. This nonexperimental, quantitative study explored the following research questions: (1) What is the relationship between school counselors’ primary leadership orientation and specific demographic factors (current grade level served, total number of years as a counselor, and prior teaching experience); (2) What is the relationship between school counselors’ primary leadership orientation and actual and perceived job responsibilities; and (3) What is the relationship between school counselors’ primary leadership orientation and school counselors’ professional development preferences? …

Black And Latino Fathers Of Students With Autism: Culturally Responsive Support, Michael D. Hannon, Kaprea F. Johnson, Nicole A. Christian, Lachan V. Hannon

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Perspectives from five Black and Latino fathers of students with autism are shared from this qualitative pilot study. The fathers were asked to describe the most helpful forms of support from school counselors. One-time, semi-structured interviews were conducted and interpreted with the thematic analysis method. Results suggest support from other parents, and specifically from other fathers, with shared experiences is most helpful. Recommendations for school counseling practice and research are shared.

Benefits Of Counseling Services For Elementary School Students, Sarah D. Fuentes

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The aim of this capstone study was to identify how elementary school counseling services benefits students, academically and emotionally. The interest in this study was a yearning to gain deeper insight into elementary school counseling and how their services impacts students. Through research and field study it has proven that elementary school counseling has been beneficial for young students. Understanding the role of the elementary school counselor is vital to comprehend the services school counselors provide. The collaboration counselors have with teachers, administration, parents and most importantly, the students, reflect how beneficial the counseling sessions are and the conflicts that …

Sibling Abuse: A Study Of School Counselors' Shared Attitudes And Beliefs, Diane Stutey

Publications

The impact of sibling abuse on children and adolescents is rarely contemplated. Counselors are in a position to advocate for all children and protect them from harm; yet one source of harm that counseling practitioners and educators might be unaware of stems from violence between siblings, which can become abusive. In this article, findings are presented from a phenomenological study examining eight practicing school counselors’ attitudes and beliefs about sibling abuse and the contexts or situations that have influenced them. Seven themes emerged supporting school counselors’ perceptions of their role in responding to sibling abuse and their beliefs about factors …

Guest Perspective: Preparation Gaps, Mandy Savitz-Romer

Journal of College Access

No abstract provided.

Virtue Ethics In School Counseling: A Framework For Decision-Making, Felicia Wilczenski, Amy Cook

Counseling, School Psychology & Sport Faculty Publication Series

Virtue ethics focus on the motives that guide ethical decision making and action, and as such, are critical to the competent application of the counseling profession’s ethical codes. Knowledge of virtue ethics deepens understanding of moral responsibilities and ethical reasoning in professional practice. This paper is an overview of virtue ethics and discusses its relevance for school counselors and counselor educators.