American School Counselor Association (ASCA) advocates for school counselors to allocate 80% of their time to direct and supportive services to students and against non-counseling duties inconsistent with the ASCA National Model. For this exploratory study, we investigated how time allocations were impacted by non-counseling duties, school…

School attendance problems (SAPs) have traditionally been viewed as a result of behavioral challenges in student populations. Increasing evidence suggests, however, that a substantial portion of SAPs and school refusal behaviors are related to underlying anxiety in students. The school counselor, as an advocate for all students, is well-positioned…

Alternative education is one of the contexts that receives little attention in research and practice. This narrative inquiry study explores the narrative of a school counselor at a continuation high school to better understand his experiences, challenges, contradictions, and opportunities of serving in an unfamiliar educational sector. This paper…

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as intentional self-inflicted damage to the surface of the body without suicidal intent. Research shows that approximately 15% of adolescents engage in NSSI behaviors, necessitating school counselors with the knowledge and skills to respond systemically and systematically. Five functions of NSSI have been…

This study examined Kansas administrators regarding their current perceptions of the role of school counselors. The study involved over 500 building administrators from elementary, middle, and high schools across rural, suburban, and urban districts in Kansas. The findings indicate that there is a clear opportunity to educate administrators on the…

Big Five personality research has been criticized for lack of generalizability due to the overuse of undergraduate psychology student samples. We address this criticism by including undergraduate religion students. This study explores student personality traits and gender differences in an underrepresented sample. Results indicated that religion…

Professional school counselors play a role in helping students and families make college decisions. One student group that may have unique challenges are student athletes who wish to compete at the collegiate level. These students have additional requirements, beyond traditional admission procedures, to meet eligibility requirements. The purpose…

According to the American School Counselor Association, the role of a school counselor includes improving success for all students. Thus, the profession of school counseling encompasses a variety of tasks, duties, and responsibilities. One of the most fundamental responsibilities of a school counselor is to provide individual counseling to…

The principal-school counselor relationship and school climate were explored with 279 high school principals in this quantitative study. Pearson's correlations revealed the principal-counselor relationship was significantly positively correlated with three dimensions of school climate: collegial leadership, professional teacher behavior, and…

Cyberbullying has become a well-documented problem plaguing the mental health and safety of teenagers in schools. An examination of the literature that includes other complex social/emotional issues provides a framework for more effective cyberbullying prevention and intervention strategies. This article examines current research, highlights…

There is a dearth of existing literature pertaining to the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in school counseling; which may be beneficial when addressing student concerns such as social anxiety and decreased social networks. This article discusses the overlap of ACT with comprehensive school counseling programs and culminates with a…

As more students in the US explore college options outside of the country, school counselors need more training to support this exploration and process. International College Options began in 2013 to address this need by providing professional development opportunities for school counselors. This quantitative study examined the program's influence…

This study was conducted to develop the Measure of Gender Exploration and Commitment (MGEC), a school counseling and training tool. The MGEC assesses one's gender exploration and commitment and was normed with a national sample of school counselors. Developing the MGEC involved (a) conducting a literature review, (b) modifying items, and (c)…

This article focuses on gun violence in the school setting and the role of the counselor in helping to reduce gun violence. Gun violence in schools has become pervasive for many reasons, including lack of adequate support staff, undiagnosed mental health issues, students who experience isolation, anger, depression, bullying, as well as access to…

Many K-12 students face mental health challenges that affect them academically, socially, and emotionally. These challenges include anxiety, depression, trauma, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While research on mental health models in school settings exits, specific attention has not been given to the role of school counselors in…