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…

This monograph on career development begins with an examination of the antecedents of present day career initiatives. The evolution of the concepts of career and career development are reviewed and the rethinking and reformulating of these concepts that have occurred since 1900 are examined. The time period from 1900 to 1950 is reviewed as the…

A rationale for counselors instructing students in study skills is presented in this fact sheet and research and assessment are discussed. A section on instructional content focuses on reading, notetaking, test taking, and time management. Three behavior modification techniques and three study skills instruction formats are discussed. The Study…

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…

The centric model of career counseling was developed for use in employment counseling and takes into account psychological, social, and economic factors. Four developmental phases are used to describe movement within the centric model. The initial phase, readiness, establishes the working alliance between the counselor and the client. Clients must…

This digest uses an analysis of underachievement literature from the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database to develop a comprehensive model for improving counseling interventions with underachievers. It discusses a redefinition of the school counselor's role, describes the model itself, and suggests uses of the model in both…

The context in which career decisions are made is dynamic--occupations are changing rapidly and society is becoming increasingly complex. This digest describes a model that uses five processes which are critical to effective career planning: initiation, exploration, decision making, preparation, and implementation. The first process, initiation,…

This monograph presents five papers which focus on the importance of computers and technology as tools for increasing the amount and the quality of adult counseling, especially in the area of adult learning. The first paper, "Excellence, Equality, and Education: A Future for Counseling," by H. B. Gelatt, discusses the compatibility of the concepts…

This book, designed for school counselors, provides information on identifying potentially violent youth, working with victims of school violence, and preparing schools to deal with violence. Chapter one, "Assessment and Diagnosis with Violent and Potentially Violent Students," describes the importance of assessment and diagnosis. It…

While there is general consensus on the importance of good academic advising to student success and support for the American College Testing Program's developmental concept of advising, there is less agreement on the most effective model for delivery. Research suggests that both faculty-oriented advising and professional counselor-oriented systems…

This digest describes the Invitational Learning model developed by William W. Purkey, an approach that emphasizes mutual respect and human potential in every aspect of schooling. It presents a brief overview of the invitational learning concept and discusses the theoretical foundations of the model. It describes characteristics of an inviting…

This six-chapter monograph presents a model for student development which is designed to unify the diverse purposes of education. After Chapter I reviews recent criticism of education, it goes on to identify problems in the performance of our educational system and to propose that a student development perspective on education provides a framework…

Obesity is one of the most prevalent health concerns currently facing industrialized nations. Psychological, social and emotional problems result from excess weight, and those who fail in their weight-loss efforts become extremely depressed. The obsession to be thin, particularly in the United States, is a boon to weight-control programs, both…

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,…

Futurists and counselors both deal with the concept of change. This monograph examines some strategies counselors can use to help themselves adopt a future orientation and to assist their counselees in meeting the future confidently. The writings of Cornish, Fletcher and Conboy bring some focus to concepts and dimensions held by futurists and…