All too often policymakers have called upon teachers to attend to youth mental health in the classroom and school counselors have largely been left out of the discussion. The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Model (2019) advocates for the practicing role of school counselors in providing direct service to youth. The Coalition model…

This study utilized qualitative methodology to provide a rich description and a deeper understanding of the professional experiences and practices of twelve school counselors who work with adolescent students who self-harm. Four themes included: suicidal or non-suicidal, role of the school counselor, referrals, and identified interventions. There…

School counselors are challenged to cultivate critical consciousness (CC) among youth engaged in anti-racist advocacy (American School Counselor Association. (2016; Ieva et al., 2021; Moss & Singh, 2015; Ratts et al., 2007; Singh et al., 2010). However, review of youth-led anti-racist initiatives reveals a lack of clarity regarding…

Students with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HASD) have specific challenges that can impede their successful transition from high school to college. The unique expertise of school counselors put them in an ideal position to assist these students with this process. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the social,…

School counselors should be taught about and utilize sexual and gender minority (SGM) identity development models as part of training and advocacy for and with SGM youth in schools. This article reviews several widely used SGM identity development models and provides pedagogical and clinical practice recommendations. Current and future school…

This article describes the pivotal role that school counselors play in preparing and helping students feel prepared and equipped to enter the workforce upon graduation. This brief commentary addresses the necessity for school counselors to work collaboratively with their students, so they are knowledgeable about college and career exploration. In…

Undocumented college-bound students face many obstacles when planning for college, and school counselors are well positioned to assist them. However, the focus is often on enrollment versus college completion. This article considers the preparation needs for undocumented college-bound students through the lens of both their unauthorized and…

African American students are retained at a higher rate compared to Hispanic and White students (National Center of Education Statistics, 2015). While there are many causative variables identified as explanations for racial disparities in grade retention practices, school counselors are encouraged to facilitate efforts to bridge existing gaps.…

Average American students are seldom aware of child and human rights principles and their impact globally and locally. School counselors are one logical group of school specialists skilled to facilitate school-based, rights-based (i.e., child and human rights) initiatives to promote students' awareness. Moving beyond their professional comfort…

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions, school counselors continue to provide necessary mental health services, support, prevention, intervention, and referrals, as needed, to the increasing number of PK-12 students with mental health needs. School counselors are essential mental health professionals who provide developmentally appropriate,…

The dissolution of adolescent romantic relationships can lead to a host of detrimental mental health, academic, and social issues for students. The purpose of this article is to discuss specific ways in which school counselors, using direct and indirect services can support students experiencing the trauma of a severed relationship. The article…

This article explores 210 Latinx high school student's perceptions of school counseling activities. Using content analysis, researchers analyzed students' written answers regarding their perceptions of school counseling activities. The researchers found that Latinx students believed academic and career interventions as most important, while those…

With school reform efforts underway, students in foster care are in sharper focus as a subgroup and districts are now being held accountable for academic achievement for these youth. School counselors play a key role in the effort to increase rates of postsecondary enrollment and are often a primary support for academic planning, resource…

Culturally and linguistically diverse students face longstanding issues of inequity within public schools in the United States. Response to intervention (RTI) is one proposed solution that addresses the inequities. As advocates for all students, school counselors possess the training and knowledge to promote fairness and equity within the RTI…

In order to support adolescent girls' social and emotional development, school counselors need to understand girls' current experiences and developmental needs. Researchers used phenomenological methodology to explore the experiences of 11 girls in Generation Z. They further examined girls' interactions with their high school counselors including…