School counselors provide comprehensive school counseling services related to prevention of school violence, but a critical step is to put those pieces together in an intentional and preventive evidence-based model. Several nationally recognized safe school initiatives neglect the significant role school counselors provide in mental health…

Anti-transgender school policies have proliferated in the United States from 2019 to 2024, impacting school climate for transgender and nonbinary learners. In this quantitative study, we examined differences in the experiences of school climate factors (e.g., safety, mattering, mental health outcomes, etc.) between male, female, and nonbinary high…

School safety has become central to the educational goals and missions of schools on almost every continent (Astor & Benbenishty, 2018). Equally important is supporting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students. School counselors have specific training to help students navigate the challenges of distance learning and…

School counselors have an ethical and professional responsibility to offer counseling services during crises such as a school shooting. Limited research has explored the lived experiences and practices of school counselors who have experienced a school shooting. This article discusses a qualitative case study investigating school counselors'…

Researchers conducted a content analysis of nine social media platforms' bullying policies based on the American School Counseling Association position statement on bullying to determine the content of the social media platforms' bullying policies as they connect to school counseling guidelines. Main findings indicated (a) common terms are often…

The immigration process for undocumented youth often results in multiple academic, personal, and career stressors including experiences of trauma, loss, language barriers, and limited postsecondary schooling or work options. Further, the ongoing political debate regarding immigration may exacerbate these stressors for undocumented youth living in…

School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are school-wide, data-driven frameworks for promoting safe schools and student learning. This article explains PBIS and provides practical examples of PBIS implementation by describing a school counselor-run PBIS framework in one elementary school, as part of a larger, district-wide…

School counselors need to advocate and act as an ally for all students. Safe Space, a training designed to facilitate competency for working with and serving LGBTQ youth (i.e., LGBTQ competency), has received increased attention in the field of school counseling. However, limited empirical support exists for training interventions such as Safe…

This article discusses four lessons for school counselors responding to any serious crisis: (a) School counselors can expect to take on leadership roles in times of crisis due to their expertise. (b) Crisis teams are temporary organizations within a school structure. Membership in two organizations can create role conflict. (c) Effective school…

Perspectives regarding bullying of gay, lesbian, and questioning (GLQ) students were obtained from 16 school and community service providers in this exploratory study. Insights were gained regarding in-school responses to homophobic bullying threats beyond traditional punishments (e.g., suspension). Barriers to developing safe schools for GLQ…

Parents of children with disabilities share concerns common to all parents, but they also have additional concerns that are unique to their children's disabilities. Professional school counselors can be more effective in their work with parents of students with disabilities, as well as with the students themselves, the students' teachers, and…