Blog 14 – School Counselors and CSCP’s article and CSCP project reflection

Blog 14 – School Counselors and CSCP’s article and CSCP project reflection

                In the article Dahir, Burnham & Stone discuss many points of the ASCA model that guide the way counselor’s role out programs aligned to the ASCA National model. They say that school counselors should plan to be committed to school improvement, data analysis to address equity, social justice, manage resources in order to motivate students to close achievement and information gaps (2009). For these reasons school counselor preparation programs have been shifting as well. The elementary results were not surprising to me and proved even further what I had mentioned in class yesterday about having more lineation between middle and elementary when it comes to academic and career domains. The results for middle school and high school were not surprising either. The unique (and I think positive) nature of middle school counseling is that if students receive a solid set of skills in elementary school then they can focus on future, career, and academic planning than elementary schools have time for. At the same time, middle school students do not to have as focused ideas about their future so there is also still time for individual and group counseling around social skills and coping strategies. I absolutely agree that MUCH more professional development is needed in schools MUCH more often around the ASCA national model.

                In reference to the CSCP project, I cannot possibly discuss everything I learned here on the blog; however I will say that I do not think I have ever learned so much from a project before in my educational history. I also do not think I ever worked so hard on any one project either. I definitely reached my goal of truly understanding the ASCA national model, I see myself referencing the book a lot in the future when I am in a professional counselor position but feel confident speaking about the model and how it should be implemented. I also learned a lot about secondary counseling and how it looks different, in reference to the model, from the presentation last night.

                Some of the barriers I see in implementing this model in schools have to do with is already in place in a school when you are hired as a counselor. I would think that implementing all of the pieces at once would be unrealistic and that a new counselor would need to have a plan for how to roll out the program gradually. I think another barrier is support since many counselors report that the model is not even enforced let alone supported in their school or district.

                I could definitely see myself using the tier process for referrals and when making decisions about individual and group counseling in practicum. I would also implement some of the parent pieces during practicum, especially since this is a portion that is missing in some schools. Finally I would want to make sure that I make a calendar plan for the semester, week, and each day for practice and too show accountability during my time there. I feel very prepared to implement at CSCP in my school when I become a counselor. I have to admit I did not anticipate feeling like this at the beginning of the semester and I am very very pleasantly surprised. I know that I would need to spend a lot of time planning how to present, implement, and carryout my CSCP, but I am really looking forward to doing so!

Dahir, C., Burnham, J., Stone, C. (2009). Listen to the Voices: School Counselors and Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. Professional School Counseling, 12(3), 182-192.