The School Counselor As Consultant: A Historical Review

Abstract

This article contains a historical review of the school counselor in the role of consultant. Published articles that have appeared in four APGA journals during the past 21 years provided the basis for the review. General trends in each journal and a developmental history of the consultation movement are presented. The conclusion was that a serious gap exists between the theory and practice of consultation in schools. Specific needs must be addressed for the school counselor as consultant model to be fully realized.

Trends in Counselor Preparation: Courses, Program Emphases, Philosophical Orientation, and Experimental Components

“…Counseling and guidance personnel in the state departments of public instruction reported that consultation accounted for approximately one-fourth of the time they spent in services offered (Hollis & Wantz, 1980). Miles and Hummel's (1979) and Kahnweiler's (1979) data, which indicated that consultation was perceived as highly important to counseling, also corroborates this trend.…”

Psychological Education: Curriculum Intervention of School Counselors Within a Primary Prevention Model

“…There is a need for more specific and pragmatic consultation models and techniques (Kahnweiler, 1979). Curriculum intervention through psychological education enables the school counselor to become a consultant and a facilitator by informing all staff members of the link between psychological theory and practice and the curricula and teaching methods.…”

DIRECT—A Consultation Skills Training Model

“…Though mandates, resolutions, role definitions, models, and texts exist on consulting, techniques for consultation skill training have not followed. Kahnweiler (1979) ends his historical review of consultation theory and practice by citing the need for models and techniques that contain specific components for practitioners and trainees. Myrick (1977), Froehle (1978), and McGreevy (1978) have suggested training methods but have not included a model for trainee skill development in the consulting interview.…”