Blog #8 Consultation Models

                Currently being a teacher before going into school counseling has helped me to see the broad spectrum of both occupations.   It is tough for teachers to see and understand that information that is shared with the counselors by the students is confidential.  In the past years of teaching I feel as though it has opened my eyes and that is one aspect that will need to be addressed with teachers.  Constant collaborating and consulting with administrators, teachers, and parents is crucial for a school counselor to be successful.  Collaboration is imperative in helping the students to be successful. There are a million ways to accomplish any one task.   I think it is the most beneficial to solicit advice from your peers to see how you can get the most out of an activity. 

In reading the case study I felt as though I was really a part of it.  I think that this is an issue that several people will face (including myself).  I feel as a special education teacher I have already had to deal with this similar problem, when regular education teachers are asking me to pull the students and fix them so that they succeed and get good grades.  One person is not going to be able to change an individual unless they themselves want the change.  I have had the exact same feelings that Yer is dealing with currently.  I am able to work with teachers a lot easier when I already have a close working relationship with them.  My fear comes when I do not know the person’s personality as well as what I would like to know them.  Knowing the other educator allows you to know when you should tread lightly and when you can push and be a little more forceful with getting the change that you want for the student.  One educator alone cannot help the student improve.  The key phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” is so true when it comes to educating a child.  The individual needs to grow in all areas (socially, emotionally, academically, etc.) in order to be successful in school and then in their own personal lives. 

I am curious as to how you can speed up the process of having a good rapport with other teachers or other adults in different organizations that I will need to work with when I am counselor.  When needing to collaborate and work on a specific situation, I feel as though it is always easier when you know the other person on a closer level.  One of my main goals during the first year as a counselor is to really get to know the other staff members (teachers, aides, custodians, secretarial staff, social workers, etc.) as much as possible.  Having a good relationship with the staff members will be one step close in making more head way when using one of the models of consultation.  The one that stood out the most to me was the generic process model of consultation when I am working with a client. 

Dollarhide, C. & Saginak, K. (2012). Comprehensive School Counseling Programs: K-12 Delivery Systems in Action (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.