As greater emphasis is placed on addressing critical school issues such as school-based mental health, violence prevention, and the effects of trauma, the utilization of school counselors should be examined to ensure that these uniquely-trained professionals are mobilized by school administrators to engage these issues. Q methodology was employed…

Eight professional counselors who routinely role-play as clients in 1 counselor education program participated in a focus group investigating their portrayal experiences. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, which resulted in 3 superordinate themes: missions, influential factors, and repercussions. Findings reinforce…

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…

School Counselors' roles have changed with the challenges of today's population. School counselors are support staff with high student-to-counselor ratios. School counselors need to be aware of the demographics of the changing student populations and resources in order to provide multicultural guidance and obtain needed skills. This discussion…

This qualitative study explores the perspectives and experiences of Black male student-athletes with particular focus on their interactions with school counselors. It draws on nine participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The Black male participants were current or former student-athletes at the high school and…

A "defining moment experience" is a pinnacle moment or critical incident that occurs within a therapeutic context and contributes significantly to the professional development and personal growth of counselors. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate how experienced counselors make sense and meaning of their defining moment…

With the recent media coverage of lead exposure in cities like Flint, Baltimore, and Newark, it is critical that school psychologists familiarize themselves with the symptoms, assessment, and intervention of lead exposure since schools will likely work with children and families exposed to lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,…

With school buildings shuttering due to COVID-19, school counselors' work needed to shift to virtual environments. The shift in operations led us to wonder about school counselors' perceptions and practices in these new and unfamiliar conditions. In our mixed-methods cross-sectional study, we gathered quantitative and qualitative data from 89…

The United States of America is currently experiencing a shortage of school counselors. California alone has over three and a half times more than the recommended student-to-counselor ratio of one counselor to 818 students. A qualitative single exploratory case study design allowed for an in-depth analysis of California school counselors'…

Background: Although sexual abuse (SA) constitutes a significant problem in intellectual disability settings, little is known regarding how services support individuals with intellectual disability who have been abused. Method: Using a qualitative design, we explored how one voluntary community service, and in particular their psychology…

This qualitative study examined female Black school counselor's perceptions regarding their role when working with students -- specifically Black students. More so, this study looked at cultural influence on female Black school counselors' thoughts and feelings relative to role confusion and burnout. Black Feminist Thought and Maslow's Hierarchy…

In this exploratory study, the professional socialization of 23 clinical social workers based in New England is examined. Building on a landmark framework for understanding professional socialization, this article extends the conversation to assess professional identity among the study participants as well. Findings suggest that clinical social…

The personal values and professional ethical codes are primary resources for practicing psychological counselors. Ethical dilemmas occur when personal values and professional ethical rules are incompatible. We examined the trainee counselors' understanding of professional ethics. This qualitative study used vignette analysis with 68 undergraduate…

This qualitative study explores school counselors' experiences of the counseling relationship with students when also fulfilling the role of anti-bullying specialist. School counselors who also serve students as the anti-bullying specialist embrace a dual role with students. Interviews with school counselors practicing multiple role to include…

The suicide of a student has a rippling effect in the school environment as well as in the greater community, as a single adolescent death by suicide increases the risk of additional suicides. The process by which a completed suicide (or at times, suicidal behavior) increases the suicidal behavior of others is called contagion. When multiple…