Community is a state of being together in which people lower their defenses and learn to accept and rejoice in differences among people. The characteristics of true community are true inclusivity; no one is exclusive or excluded. People are social creatures who desperately need each other not only for company but for meaning in their lives.…

Counselors working in the areas of marriage and family counseling and therapy are expected to work effectively with couples and families experiencing a variety of issues and problems. Structural, strategic, and transgenerational family therapists may seem to be operating in similar manners, and it appears that many practicing family therapists go…

A form of consultation called staff development or in-service training is the clearest definition of counselor consultation with the judiciary. The role of the counselor educator is uniquely appropriate to meet the needs of judges. The ability to effectively utilize a variety of media is most appealing to judges. The knowledge base of counseling…

Too often parents, teachers, and even counselors assume that underachievers are students who can, but simply don't (or won't) achieve. But student underachievement is a complex problem that defies a "one size fits all" solution. Although past research has extensively explored and documented the links between personal and social variables…

School counselors are often consultants for parents and teachers on problems that children and adolescents face. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is one such problem. It is frequently misunderstood, presenting a challenge for parents and teachers alike. The counselor is a resource for initial identification and interventions at home and in the…

School counselors have always considered themselves to be change agents. Historically, that change has been related to helping an individual become aware of behaviors or attitudes that might be affecting his/her success and then guiding that individual into new ways of acting or thinking. This skill is transferable to affecting change in the…

Terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, and the continued threats of terrorism have the potential to engender negative psychological effects upon school age children and their families. School counselors and mental health professionals working with children need to be knowledgeable regarding interventions which allow students to…

This fact sheet discusses the role of the school counselor in interventions for school phobia, transient and latchkey children, and children from single parent families. (MCF)

For many years, gender equity has pertained primarily to improving education and career opportunities for females. Recent studies, however, provide evidence that boys no longer hold an advantage. Based on extensive analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Study, the High School & Beyond, and the National Education Longitudinal Study, it…

One of the most threatening events that causes anxiety in students today is testing. When students develop an extreme fear of performing poorly on an examination, they experience test anxiety. Test anxiety is a major factor contributing to a variety of negative outcomes including psychological distress, academic underachievement, academic failure,…

This digest focuses on some special concerns of the elderly such as employment issues, retirement, problems of aging, and continuing education, and discusses ways counselors can help. (BH)

This digest examines reasons for youth unemployment and its effects, the counselor's role in school-to-work transitions, vocational adjustment, intervention strategies, and current needs. (BH)

This digest focuses on the contributions counselors can make to help schools achieve educational excellence and enhance both the quantity and quality of student learning. (BH)

Achievement of the six National Education Goals will require changes in the present educational system, change in how communities respond to education, and especially change in how education is visualized. An effective guidance program has the capacity to make major contributions to all of the National Education Goals. School administrators,…