CHAPTER 3

THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR

SCHOOL COUNSELOR
This chapter introduced the essential services that are offered by the school counselor at all levels of practice, including elementary, middle and high schools. The premise is that each of these settings counselors provide a wide range of services in comprehensive programs designed to address the educational, career, personal and
social development.

Varying Roles of School Counselors

In most instances the school counselors use the same basic helping processes in the elementary and high school settings these are the counseling, consulting, coordinating and appraising. Because children in elementary and middle schools have different developmental needs from students in high school, it follows that specific services vary according to the needs of the students in the particular school. Therefore, the role and functions of school counselors are influenced by both the specific level of practice and the needs of particular school populations being served.

Varying Roles of School Counselors in:

The Elementary School The Middle School The High School

The Elementary School Counselor

Saw an emergence Of counseling in elementary Indicated that Over 700 1960s Were employed
1950s 1969

Elementary Counselors were Employed In 50 states

HISTORY

1920s

1970s

The numbers Of counselors Had grown To nearly 8,000.

A few guidance specialist were present

1970s & 1980s

Increased attention On services To elementary children

Elementary School Counselors

Has its unique focus, a focus that includes:
1.appropriateness of processes and approaches to counseling with children 2.adequate attention to developmental activities and services 3.strong parent and teacher involvement in the helping process.

The Middle School Counselor

Middle school are relatively recent educational organizations that have replaced junior high schools in many communities across the countries. The students in middle school includes pre-adolescents between the range of 9 and 13. The unique needs of this age group require special attention particularly to their physical and social development. These includes: a. counseling the pre- Adolescents b. transitional services c. teacher involvement d. parent involvement

The High School Counselor

The helping process described earlier of the elementary and middle school counselors are used at the high school level as well. These process include counseling, consulting, coordinating and appraising.. The difference in how the counselor deliver these essential services is seen in the activities used. These includes: a. counseling and guiding adolescents b. information services c. parent/ teacher involvement

The end