The Role of School Counselors in Meeting Students’ Mental Health Needs: Examining Issues of Professional Identity

Abstract

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.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abu-Hilal

M. M.

(2000). A structural model of attitudes towards school subjects, academic aspiration, and achievement. Educational Psychology, 20, 75–84. doi:10.1080/014434100110399

Amatea

E. S.

, & Clark

M. A.

(2005). Changing schools, changing counselors: A qualitative study of school administrators’ conceptions of the school counselor role. Professional School Counseling, 9, 16–27.

American School Counselor Association. (2003). The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs. Alexandria, VA: Author.

American School Counselor Association. (2005). The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs: Executive summary (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Author.

American School Counselor Association. (2010). Ethical Standards for School Counselors. Alexandria, VA: Author. Retrieved from http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/EthicalStandards2010.pdf

American School Counselor Association. (2012a). ASCA school counselor competencies. Alexandria, VA: Author. Retrieved from http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/SCCompetencies.pdf

American School Counselor Association. (2012b). The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs (3rd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Author.

American School Counselor Association. (2013a). ASCA National Model 3.0: When it's time to change. ASCA School Counselor, 49 (6), 10–13.

American School Counselor Association. (2013b). State certification requirements. Retrieved from http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=242

10.

Anderson

E. S.

, & Keith

T. Z.

(1997). A longitudinal test of a model of academic success for at-risk high school students. Journal of Educational Research, 90, 259–268. doi:10.1080/00220671.1997.10544582

11.

Aubrey

R. F.

(1991). A house divided: Guidance and counseling in 20th-century America. In Coy

D. R.

, Cole

C. G.

, Huey

W. C.

, & Sears

S. J.

(Eds.), Toward the transformation of secondary school counseling (pp. 4–26). Ann Arbor, MI: ERIC Counseling and Personnel Services Clearinghouse.

12.

Auger

R. W.

(2011). The school counselor's mental health sourcebook: Strategies to help students succeed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

13.

Baker

S. B.

, Robichaud

T. A.

, Westforth Dietrich

V. C.

, Wells

S. C.

, & Schreck

R. E.

(2009). School counselor consultation: A pathway to advocacy, collaboration, and leadership. Professional School Counseling, 12, 200–206. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-12.200

14.

Barna

J. S.

, & Brott

P. E.

(2011). How important is personal/social development to academic achievement? The elementary school counselor's perspective. Professional School Counseling, 14, 242–249.

15.

Beesley

(2004). Teachers’ perceptions of school counselor effectiveness: Collaborating for student success. Education, 125 (2), 259–271.

16.

Bernard

J. M.

, & Goodyear

R. K.

(2013). Fundamentals of clinical supervision (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

17.

Blackman

, Hayes

R. L.

, Reeves

P. M.

, & Paisley

P. O.

(2002). Building a bridge: Counselor educator-school counselor collaboration. Counselor Education and Supervision, 41, 243–255. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2002.tb01287.x

18.

Borders

L. D.

, DeKruyf

, Fernando

D. M.

, Glosoff

H. L.

, Hays

D. G.

, Page

, & Welfare

L. E.

(2011). Best practices in clinical supervision. Retrieved from http://www.acesonline.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ACES-Best-Practices-in-clinical-supervision-document-FINAL.pdf

19.

Brown

, Dahlbeck

D. T.

, & Sparkman-Barnes

(2006). Collaborative relationships: School counselors and non-school mental health professionals working together to improve the mental health needs of students. Professional School Counseling, 9, 332–335.

20.

Busacca

L. A.

, & Wester

K. L.

(2006). Career concerns of master's-level community and school counselor trainees. The Career Development Quarterly, 55, 179–190. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2006.tb00012.x

21.

Campbell

C. A.

, & Dahir

C. A.

(1997). Sharing the vision: The national standards for school counseling programs. Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association.

22.

Cappella

, Jackson

D. R.

, Bilal

, Hamre

B. K.

, & Soulé

(2011). Bridging mental health and education in urban elementary schools: Participatory research to inform intervention development. School Psychology Review, 40, 486–508.

23.

Carey

, & Dimmitt

(2013). School counseling and student outcomes: Summary of six statewide studies. Professional School Counseling, 16, 146–153. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2012-16.89

24.

Carrell

S. E.

, & Carrell

S. A.

(2006). Do lower student to counselor ratios reduce school disciplinary problems? Contributions to Economic Analysis & Policy, 5 (1), 1–26.

25.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Mental health surveillance among children - United States, 2005–2011. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 62 (2), 1–35. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/other/su6202.pdf

26.

Clark

, & Amatea

(2004). Teacher perceptions and expectations of school counselor contributions: Implications for program planning and training. Professional School Counseling, 8, 132–140.

27.

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (2009). 2009 Standards. Retrieved from http://www.cacrep.org/doc/2009%20Standards%20with%20cover.pdf

28.

Culbreth

J. R.

, Scarborough

J. L.

, Banks-Johnson

, & Solomon

(2005). Role stress among practicing school counselors. Counselor Education and Supervision, 45, 58–71. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2005.tb00130.x

29.

Curry

J. R.

, & DeVoss

J. A.

(2009). Introduction to special issue: The school counselor as leader. Professional School Counseling, 13, 64–67. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-13.64

30.

Davis

J. L.

, & Mickelson

D. J.

(1994). School counselors: Are you aware of ethical and legal aspects of counseling? School Counselor, 42 (1), 5–13.

31.

DeKruyf

, & Pehrsson

D. E.

(2011). School counseling site supervisor training: An exploratory study. Counselor Education & Supervision 50, 314–327. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2011.tb01918.x

32.

Dollarhide

C. T.

, & Miller

G. M.

(2006). Supervision for preparation and practice of school counselors: Pathways to excellence. Counselor Education & Supervision, 45, 242–252. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2006.tb00001.x

33.

Dollarhide

C. T.

, Smith

A. T.

, & Lemberger

M. E.

(2007). Critical incidents in the development of supportive principals: Facilitating school counselor-principal relationships. Professional School Counseling, 10, 360–369. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2006.tb00001.x

34.

Education Trust. (1997). Transforming school counseling initiative. DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Grant. Washington, DC: Author.

35.

Freeman

, & Coll

K. M.

(1997). Factor structure of the role questionnaire (RQ): A study of high school counselors. Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development, 30 (1), 32–39.

36.

Gardner

(1983). A nation at risk: The imperative for educational reform. Report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

37.

George

P. S.

(2011). The American middle school movement: Taking the long view. Middle School Journal, 43, 44–52.

38.

Gruman

D. H.

, Marston

, & Koon

(2013). Bringing mental health needs into focus through school counseling program transformation. Professional School Counseling, 16, 333–341.

39.

Gysbers

N. C.

(2010). Remembering the past, shaping the future: A history of school counseling. Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association.

40.

Gysbers

N. C.

, & Henderson

(1988). Developing and managing your school guidance program. Alexandria, VA: American Association for Counseling and Development.

41.

Gysbers

N. C.

, & Henderson

(2001). Comprehensive guidance and counseling programs: A rich history and a bright future. Professional School Counseling, 4, 246–256.

42.

Hatch

(2012). Advocacy and social justice. In ASCA (Ed.), The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs (3rd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association.

43.

Herlihy

, Gray

, & McCollum

(2002). Legal and ethical issues in school counselor supervision. Professional School Counseling, 6, 55–60.

44.

Hoskins

W. J.

, Astramovich

R. L.

, & Smith

S. D.

(2006). School counselling consultation: A comparison of parent, teacher, and conjoint modalities. Guidance & Counseling, 21 (3), 152–159.

45.

Janson

(2009). High school counselors’ views on their leadership behaviors: A Q methodology study. Professional School Counseling, 13, 86–97. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-13.86

46.

Janson

, Stone

, & Clark

M. A.

(2009). Stretching leadership: A distributed perspective for school counselor leaders. Professional School Counseling, 13, 98–106. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-13.98

47.

Jianzhong

(2005). Purposes for doing homework reported by middle and high school students. Journal of Educational Research, 99, 46–55. doi:10.3200/JOER.99.1.46-55

48.

Kaffenberger

C. J.

, & O'Rorke-Trigiani

(2013). Addressing student mental health needs by providing direct and indirect services and building alliances in the community. Professional School Counseling, 16, 323–332.

49.

Kataoka

S. H.

, Zhang

, & Wells

K. B.

(2002). Unmet need for mental health care among U.S. children: Variation by ethnicity and insurance status. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 1548–1555. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.159.9.1548

50.

Kelly

(2013, March 25). House subcommittee examines current mental health services in schools. The Chronicle of Social Change. Retrieved from https://chronicleofsocialchange. org/analysis/2013/03/25/capitol-view-on-kids-the-latest-from-washington-on-children-and-families-3/

51.

Keys

S. G.

, Bemak

, & Lockhart

E. J.

(1998). Transforming school counseling to serve the mental health needs of at-risk youth. Journal of Counseling & Development, 76, 381–388. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1998.tb02696.x

52.

Kolodinsky

, Draves

, Schroder

, Lindsey

, & Zlatev

(2009). Reported levels of satisfaction and frustration by Arizona school counselors: A desire for greater connection with students in a data-driven era. Professional School Counseling, 12, 193–199. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-12.193

53.

Lambie

G. W.

(2011). Substance abuse: Implications for school counseling practice. In Sink

(Ed.), Mental health interventions for school counselors (pp. 87–105). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

54.

Lambie

G. W.

, & Williamson

L. L.

(2004). The challenge to change from guidance counseling to professional school counseling: A historical proposition. Professional School Counseling, 8, 124–131.

55.

Lapan

R. T.

, Gysbers

N. C.

, & Sun

(1997). The impact of more fully implemented guidance programs on the school experiences of high school students: A statewide evaluation study. Journal of Counseling & Development, 75, 292–302. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1997.tb02344.x

56.

Lau

, & Roeser

R. W.

(2002). Cognitive abilities and motivational processes in high school students’ situational engagement and achievement in science. Educational Assessment, 8, 139–162. doi:10.1207/S15326977EA0802_04

57.

Lemberger

M. E.

, Morris, C. A. W., Clemens

E. V.

, & Smith

A. L.

(2010). A qualitative investigation of the referral process from school counselors to mental health providers. Journal of School Counseling, 8(32). Retrieved from http://jsc.montana.edu/articles/v8n32.pdf

58.

Leuwerke

W. C.

, Walker

, & Shi

(2009). Informing principals: The impact of different types of information on principals’ perceptions of professional school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 12, 263–271. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-12.263

59.

Maag

J. W.

, Katsiyannis

(2010). School-based mental health issues: Funding options and issues. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 21 (3), 173–180. doi:10.1177/1044207310385551

60.

McCarthy

, Van Horn Kerne, V., Calfa

N. A.

, Lambert

R. G.

, & Guzman

(2010). An exploration of school counselors’ demands and resources: Relationship to stress, biographic, and caseload characteristics. Professional School Counseling, 13, 146–158. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-13.146

61.

McMahon

, Mason

E. M.

, & Paisley

P. O.

(2009). School counselor educators as educational leaders promoting systemic change. Professional School Counseling, 13, 116–124. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-13.146

62.

Murphy

, & Kaffenberger

(2007). ASCA National Model®: The foundation for supervision of practicum and internship students. Professional School Counseling, 10, 289–296.

63.

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. (2008). Professional standards for the accreditation of teacher preparation institutions. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.ncate.org/documents/standards/NCATE%20Standards%202008.pdf

64.

New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (2003). Achieving the promise: Transforming mental health care in America. Final report. DHHS Pub. No. SMA-03–3832. Rockville, MD: Author.

65.

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107–110, 115 Stat. 1425 (2002).

66.

Osterlind

S. J.

, Koller

J. R.

, & Morris

E. F.

(2007). Incidence and practical issues of mental health for school-aged youth in juvenile justice detention. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 13 (4), 268–277. doi:10.1177/1078345807306802

67.

Page

B. J.

, Pietrzak

D. R.

, & Sutton

J. M.

Jr. , (2001). National survey of school counselor supervision. Counselor Education and Supervision, 41, 142–150. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2001.

68.

Paisley

P. O.

, & McMahon

(2001). School counseling for the 21st century: Challenges and opportunities. Professional School Counseling, 5, 106–115.

69.

Paisley

P. O.

, Ziomek-Daigle

J. Z.

, Getch

Y. Q.

, & Bailey

D. F.

(2007). Using state standards to develop professional school counsellor identity as both counsellors and educators. Guidance & Counseling, 21 (3), 143–151.

70.

Parsons

(1909). Choosing a vocation. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

71.

Patterson

C. H.

(1966). Psychotherapy in the schools. Journal of School Psychology, 4, 15–29. doi:10.1016/0022-4405(66)90062-8

72.

Peterson

J. S.

, & Deuschle

(2006). A model for supervising school counseling students without teaching experience. Counselor Education and Supervision, 45, 267–281. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2006.tb00003.x

73.

Porter

, Epp

, Bryant

(2000). Collaborating for safe schools and safe communities. Professional School Counseling, 3, 315–322. Portland Public Schools. (n.d.). School counselor-administrator management agreement guidelines. Retrieved from www.pps.k12.or.us_files_student-services_HSCounselor-AdmAgreement.pdf

74.

Reback

(2010). Schools’ mental health services and young children's emotions, behavior, and learning. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 29 (4), 698–725. doi:10.1002/pam.20528

75.

Reiner

S. M.

, Colbert

R. D.

, & Pérusse

(2009). Teacher perceptions of the professional school counselor role: A national study. Professional School Counseling, 12, 324–332. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-12.324

76.

Reiner

S. M.

, & Hernandez

T. J.

(2013). Are we going in the right direction? Concern about school counseling. Michigan Journal of Counseling Research, Theory & Practice, 39 (2), 28–41.

77.

Roberts

E. B.

, & Borders

L. D.

(1994). Supervision of school counselors: Administrative, program, and counseling. School Counselor, 41 (3), 149–157.

78.

Rodeiro

C. L. V.

, Emery

J. L.

, & Bell

J. F.

(2012). Emotional intelligence and academic attainment of British secondary children: A cross-sectional survey. Educational Studies, 38, 521–539. doi:10.1080/03055698.2011.643115

79.

Rogers

(1942). Counseling and psychotherapy: Newer concepts in practice. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

80.

Schwallie-Giddis

, ter Maat

, & Park

(2003). Initiating leadership by introducing and implementing the ASCA National Model. Professional School Counseling, 6, 170–173.

81.

Shallcross

(2013). Claiming their rightful place at the table. Counseling Today, 56 (2), 35–43.

82.

Shillingford

M. A.

, & Lambie

G. W.

(2010). Contribution of professional school counselor's values and leadership practices to their programmatic service delivery. Professional School Counseling, 13, 208–217. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-13.208

83.

Sink

C. A.

, & Stroh

H. R.

(2003). Raising achievement test scores of early elementary school students through comprehensive school counseling programs. Professional School Counseling, 6, 350–364.

84.

Somers

C. L.

, Owens

, & Piliawsky

(2008). Individual and social factors related to urban African American adolescents’ school performance. The High School Journal, 91, 1–11. doi:10.1353/hsj.2008.0004

85.

Splete

H. A.

(1992). The Oakland Counselor Academy: A professional development program for school counselors. School Counselor, 39 (3), 176–182.

86.

Studer

J. R.

(2005). Supervising school counselors-in-training: A guide for field supervisors. Professional School Counseling, 8, 353–359

87.

Sutton

J. M.

, & Page

B. J.

(1994). Post-degree clinical supervision of school counselors. School Counselor, 42 (1), 32–40.

88.

Swank

J. M.

, & Tyson

(2013). School counseling site supervisor training: A web-based approach. Professional School Counseling, 16, 40–48. doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2012-16.40

89.

Thomas

S. R.

(2005). The school counselor alumni peer consultation group. Counselor Education and Supervision, 45, 16–29. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2005.tb00127.x

90.

Thomas

S. R.

, DeKruyf

, Hetherington

, & Lesicko

(2009). Developing a global culture of collaboration for school counselors. Journal for International Counselor Education, 1, 15–31.

91.

Thompson

D. A.

, & Wynne

(2011). Brew a better internship experience. Presentation at the American School Counselor Association 2011 Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.

92.

Vander Stoep

, Weiss

N. S.

, Kuo

E. S.

, Cheney

, & Cohen

(2003). What proportion of failure to complete secondary school in the US population is attributable to adolescent psychiatric disorder? The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 30 (1), 119–124. doi:10.1007/BF02287817

93.

Waidley

J. W.

, & Pappas

J. G.

(1992). An evaluation of the Oakland Academy model: Do counselor academies really work? School Counselor, 39 (3), 183–188.

94.

Walley

, Grothaus

, & Craigen

(2009). Confusion, crisis, and opportunity: Professional school counselors’ role in responding to student mental health issues. Journal of School Counseling, 7 (36), 1–25. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v7n36.pdf

95.

Weist

M. D.

(2001). Toward a public mental health promotion and intervention system for youth. Journal of School Health, 71 (3), 101–104. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2001.tb07301.x

96.

Weist

M. D.

, Lowie

J. A.

, Flaherty

L. T.

, & Pruitt

(2001). Collaboration among the education, mental health, and public health systems to promote youth mental health. Psychiatric Services, 52 (10), 1348–1351. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.52.10.1348

97.

Whiston

(2002). Response to the past, present, and future of school counseling: Raising some issues. Professional School Counseling, 5, 148–157.

98.

Whiston

S. C.

, Tai

W. L.

, Rahardja

, & Eder

(2011). School counseling outcome: A meta-analytic examination of interventions. Journal of Counseling & Development, 89 (1), 37–55. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2011.tb00059.x

99.

Williamson

E. G.

(1939). How to counsel students: A manual of techniques for clinical counselors. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.