Addresses the questions of school counselors' obsolescence and relevance. Cites examples of national indicators of support for school counselors. Suggests the need for sharpening the counselor's role and reducing the unevenness in guidance services' availability. (ABB)

Published articles that have appeared in four APGA journals during the past 21 years provided the basis for this review. General trends in each journal and a developmental history of the consultation movement are presented. A serious gap is noted between theory and practice of consultation in schools. (Author)

Compared two levels of goal setting. In the first level adolescents were involved in setting goals for behavioral counseling. In the second level they were informed that goals were set, but were not involved. Results indicated greater degree of goal attainment and counseling satisfaction for participating pupils. (Author/JAC)

Discusses specific issues school counselors may encounter when working with children and parents who are Christian fundamentalists. Fundamentalist families are likely to be intact, father-led, politically conservative, suspicious and skeptical, and often spiritual elitist. Offers a definition of Christian fundamentalism, explores client…

Examines a small rural public school's immediate and long-range postvention responses to a student suicide. Provides information from a psychological autopsy compiled in the months following the death. Discusses the implications of suicide postvention and the benefits of using a psychological autopsy approach as a postvention strategy. (RJM)

Service-learning classes taught by professional middle school counselors and teachers can help middle school students meet comprehensive guidance program goals related to academic/learning development, life/career development, personal/social development, and multicultural/global citizenship. An example is provided of a service-learning class…

Discussion of career counseling focuses on Careers in Computing, a project that was designed to help counsel students in junior high and high school regarding career choices in computer science. Highlights include objectives of the project, a description of kit materials, suggested activities, and distribution and evaluation plans. (LRW)

Defines seven characteristics that make a counselor indispensable to the schools of today and tomorrow: (1) humanness; (2) professionalism; (3) expertise as a program creator; (4) team player; (5) facilitator; (6) public relations expert; and (7) futurist. Counselors who work from a strong guidance program and who embody these characteristics are…

Examines the interface between the family and the school. Argues that school counselors have access to both family and school systems and thus are uniquely positioned to engage each component. Discusses triangulation and cautions counselors to maintain an outside position and not become triangled into the family system. (RJM)

Provides for those involved in retaining a child a concise, cumulative report of recent literature and research on elementary grade retention. Most research indicated that elementary school level retention does not effectively increase academic achievement among low-achieving students. Research-based decision making on this issue is a must. (RJM)

Discusses ways to assess patterns of family interactions that influence adolescent career development. Encourages school counselors to investigate the possibility that extremes in family patterns of adaptation, cohesion, and communication may have a significant negative impact on adolescent career development. Timely assessments and interventions…

Recommends a comprehensive and developmentally based school counseling program to assist middle school students in developing their educational, social, career, and personal strengths. Describes a sequential, flexible, competency-based, inclusive, integrated and proactive counseling program. Structural components addressed and detailed include…

This article describes a study evaluating the impact of school-counselor-led interventions on student academic achievement and school success behavior. A group counseling and classroom guidance model called student success skills (SSS) was the primary intervention. The focus of the SSS model was on three sets of skills identified in several…

Focuses on possible causes of attention deficit disorder (ADD), changes in ADD terminology, the diagnosis of ADD, the school counselor's unique position in addressing this disorder, and the multidisciplinary team-multidimensional approach to treatment of ADD individuals. School counselors should know the specific diagnosis of individuals with ADD…

Examines rationalization in counselors' interactions with students, parents, and teachers--provides examples of each kind of interaction. Describes the dynamics of rationalization in the schools and outlines interventions that may be used with students, parents, and teachers. Also explores counselors' use of rationalization and gives examples of…