Mental Health Services in Public Schools: A Preliminary Study of School Counselor Perceptions

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 2156759X1501604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie A. Carlson ◽  
Nathalie L. Kees

This descriptive survey research study (N = 120) examined the self-reported comfort level of school counselors in addressing the mental health needs of their students and school counselor perceptions regarding working relationships with school-based therapists. Survey results indicated that school counselors are generally confident in their counseling skills and comfortable addressing common issues brought to them by their students. However, these same school counselors indicated that they experience some discomfort in working with students living with DSM diagnoses and that specific courses within counselor training programs may have a mitigating effect on this discomfort. Results also revealed that school counselors are willing to lead and work with cross-disciplinary teams and school-based therapists to better meet the mental health needs of their students.


2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2156759X1201600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie A. Carlson ◽  
Nathalie L. Kees

This descriptive survey research study (N = 120) examined the self-reported comfort level of school counselors in addressing the mental health needs of their students and school counselor perceptions regarding working relationships with school-based therapists. Survey results indicated that school counselors are generally confident in their counseling skills and comfortable addressing common issues brought to them by their students. However, these same school counselors indicated that they experience some discomfort in working with students living with DSM diagnoses and that specific courses within counselor training programs may have a mitigating effect on this discomfort. Results also revealed that school counselors are willing to lead and work with cross-disciplinary teams and school-based therapists to better meet the mental health needs of their students.



2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 2156759X0001600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Dekruyf ◽  
Richard W. Auger ◽  
Shannon Trice-Black

The professional identity of school counselors has evolved over time. This article traces the historical context driving this evolution, and suggests it is time for the profession to conjoin the roles of educational leader and mental health professional. This proposal is prompted by heightened awareness of unmet student mental health needs, referrals that go unmet, school counselors displaced by other mental health providers in schools, the potential loss of the unique school counselor role, and the natural link between the mental health professional role and the array of personal-social factors that impact student achievement. A conjoint professional school counselor identity that includes the roles of both educational leader and mental health professional positions school counselors to better respond to all students, including those with mental health needs. This article discusses potential roadblocks and offers suggestions for action.



2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 2156759X0500900
Author(s):  
Chris Brown ◽  
David T. Dahlbeck ◽  
Lynette Sparkman-Barnes

Fifty-three school counselors and administrators employed in middle and high school settings were surveyed regarding their thoughts about school districts working collaboratively with non-school mental health professionals to respond to the mental health needs of students. In addition, the survey sought to understand what school counselors and their hiring principals/vice principals regard as the roles and responsibilities of school counselors and the scope of school counselor training.



2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 2156759X2199839
Author(s):  
Alexandra Novakovic ◽  
Eva N. Patrikakou ◽  
Melissa S. Ockerman

This study addresses school counselors’ perceptions of the importance of college and career readiness counseling and their preparedness to implement aspects of such counseling with students and families. Results from surveying school counselors in a large urban district serving a diverse, low-income student population indicated that school counselors did not believe they were well prepared to provide many aspects of college and career readiness counseling, although they perceived that each area was important to their work with students and families. We discuss implications for training school counselors in college and career readiness counseling.



2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 2156759X2094774
Author(s):  
Robert R. Martinez ◽  
Regina Gavin Williams ◽  
Jennifer Green

Through the development and implementation of a trauma-sensitive comprehensive school counseling program, school counselors can be essential in meeting the mental health needs of youth in foster care. The multitiered systems of support (MTSS) framework is one potential strategy in achieving this goal. We offer recommendations on how school counselors might deliver a trauma-informed care approach utilizing the MTSS framework to support the mental health needs of youth in foster care who have experienced trauma.



2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-45
Author(s):  
Marva Brewington ◽  
Jason Kushner

The study examined school counselor perceptions of the American School Counseling Association’s Comprehensive School Counseling Program (CSCP) on academic outcomes (better-reported grades and better-standardized scores) of middle school students with a focus on recommendations for the tasks and responsibilities of school counselors. The study was qualitative and used a phenomenological approach through semi-structured face-to-face interviews to provide inquiry into school counselors’ perceptions of an effective school counseling program.



2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 175
Author(s):  
Stephen Benigno

Elementary and Middle school administrators continually struggle with developing instructional programs that will address the academic and human developmental levels of the students in their care. Addressing the human development and the academic issues related to the elementary and middle school student is only a small percentage of the attention required for that student. Many students at the elementary and middle school levels encounter issues related to social and emotional development that are often overwhelming and many times detrimental to the academic development of those students. School administrators address those issues by utilizing the existing infrastructure of the schools. One of the key components of the school infrastructure is the school counselor. In some situations, school counselors are being required to perform duties outside the realm of their perceived responsibilities. This study was conducted to ascertain school counselor perceptions with respect to job performance, expectations, satisfaction and responsibility. The results of the study indicated that the counselors involved in the study believed that they are being required to perform duties outside the realm of their responsibilities and that the performance of these duties has an impact on their effectiveness as school counselors.



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