Guidance for the 1990s: Revitalizing the Counselor's Role

Counselors' Models of Helping: Addressing the Needs of the Culturally Different Client in School Settings

“…Paisley and Borders stated that the appropriate school counseling programs should be comprehensive and developmental programs that emphasize primary prevention and the promotion of the healthy development of all students. O'Dell, Rak, Chermonte, Hamlin, and Waina (1996) defined developmental programs as programs that are available to all students and that improve competencies in personal, social, and career goal planning. This developmental approach affirms that guidance is for everyone, and its purpose is to develop all students to their maximum potential.…”

Addressing Students' Social and Emotional Needs

“…There is a lack of understanding of the mental health professional's role within the school, so social workers, counselors and school psychologists should do more to define and explain their position (Bailey et al, 1989). Role expectations do vary from district to district depending on needs of the school (Thomas et al, 1992), but there is still too much role confusion (O'Dell et al, 1996) which decreases support for the counselor's services. The general school population is not sure why the social worker works in a certain way, how the approach meets the needs and goals of the school, how decisions are made, and what arrangements exist to maintain accountability (Comer & Haynes, 1995).…”

“…The benefits of this extra time are seen in a team approach advocated by O'Dell et al (1996), which combines (a) developmental programming aimed at improving the personal, social, and goal planning competencies of all students, (b) preventive programming which targets at-risk students, and (c) remedial programming which serves troubled students. The effects of the program on the school included positive changes in self-concept, a lower failure rate, realistic career planning, higher school functioning, and increased understanding.…”

High School Guidance Counselor Recommendations: The Role of Student Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Academic Performance

“…A study of North Carolina students by Knox, Pratto, and Mann Callahan (1974) showed that while 9% of students indicated a school counselor was the “most helpful person” in deciding their postsecondary educational plans, 72% of students who decided to go to college late in their high school careers indicated that they did or would use the assistance of a guidance counselor. Moreover, the counseling literature strongly promotes the role of counselors in helping students explore their postsecondary educational options (Hoyt, 2001; O'Dell et al., 1996).…”

“…Research has suggested that high school students make postsecondary educational decisions based on information gained from a variety of sources, including peers and parents (sources of human, financial, and social capital to their children; Kerckhoff, 1995), as well as teachers and guidance counselors (Royster, 2003). High school counselors provide educational planning and guidance to students and, therefore, are likely to be an important source of information for students contemplating their postsecondary options (Hoyt, 2001; Jenkins, 1987; O'Dell, Rak, Chermonte, Hamlin, & Waina, 1996). In addition, many counselors know college recruiters personally and interact on a regular basis to connect students to schools (Royster, 2003).…”