Verified Document

Counseling Guidance And Counseling Role Of The Essay

Counseling Guidance and Counseling

Role of the Counselor

Counseling Techniques

Confidentiality

Group vs. Individual Counseling

Role of the Counselor

The counselor interviewed became a school counselor because she loves children and feels a strong sense of purpose to give back to society by helping children. She works with children between the ages of about eight and twelve. The counselor started with a degree in educational psychology and chose to be a school counselor over other options such as a private counselor or family counselor. One of the main goals that the counselor described is careful listening. Listening is an important skill that allows children feel more comfortable with sharing their true feelings or problems. She also listed empathy as a critical skill towards the same end. When you empathize with children they are also far more likely to be more open and honest about the challenges they are experiencing.

The role of the counselor obviously depends on the individual perspective and professional identity that the counselor has developed. The professional identity process is dynamic and develops over time. One qualitative study focused on the development of this professional identity and found that conflict resolution was one of the most salient factors that influence the development of a professional identity (Brott & Myers, 2011). From the interview conducted, this seemed to fit the counselor's career development as well. She had learned many strategies through her background and her experience to help children feel more comfortable so that she could get as close as possible to whatever conflict they were experiencing in their lives.

Another role of school counseling that was identified in the literature was for the counselor to help students become self-regulator learners. Although this wasn't covered in the interview, self-regulating learning can empower students toward greater academic performances (Lapan, Kardash, & Turner, 2002). However, there are different levels of conflict that students face and focusing on learning strategies is often at a low priority than other more critical conflicts.

Counseling Techniques

The counselor interviewed stated that they had a great deal of freedom to develop their own techniques in their work setting with a few exceptions. Furthermore, they saw their role as a mediator between the schools administration and the children's parents. There are also a set of school policies that govern the counselors role but these are not too constricting. The counselor stated that they faced issues being involved with counseling in Lebanon because in the Middle East the culture does not fully embrace the profession of counseling. For example, when parents are asked to be involved in a session they often respond by saying something to the effect of "that there kid is not crazy or sick and does not need counseling" which is a common response. However, some parents are more responsive and it is entirely dependent on the unique situation and the parents.

The counselor interview mainly uses play theory and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) however mentioned that play theory is generally more effective in making children feel more comfortable. Furthermore, in her experience the counselor stated that it generally took about the sittings before the child would open up to them. The efficacy of play therapy as a psychological intervention has been heavily debated in the literature however there is some evidence that suggest that it has positive effects for humanistic treatments which would support the counselor's experience (Bratton, Ray, Rhine, & Jones, 2005).

Confidentiality

The counselor interviewed stated that she never would break her confidentiality agreement with students unless it was an emergency case. She instructs the children that anything said in a session is confidential. However, if something bad comes up in a session it is her responsibility to inform the schools administration and take some kind of action. In such a case the counselor will inform the student that she will have to break the confidentiality agreement. However, with children this age it is a rare occurrence that such a situation presents itself. In the case of abuse, the counselor would contact the parents...

This was a source of frustration with the counselor because there are not many options for child care services and as a result it is the decision of the parents to take action in most cases.
Group vs. Individual Counseling

The counselor stated that she typically performs individual counseling. In her experience, she has found that children are able to talk more freely about their problems when they are alone in session. Furthermore, she stated that children in the age ranges she deals with have a lot of energy and are pretty hyper. Therefore when more than one student is together they have the tendency to play and carry on. Another issue with group sessions at this age is that children might not respect the confidentiality of other students. Therefore, because of all these reasons, all of the sessions are generally one on one with the counselor and the students.

Works Cited

Bratton, S., Ray, D., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2005). The Efficacy of Play Therapy With Children: A Meta-Analytic Review of Treatment Outcomes. Professional Psychology, 376-390.

Brott, P., & Myers, J. (2011, May). Development of Professional School Counselor Identity. Retrieved January 15, 2013, from Development: http://www.nice2cq.com/hasava/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8-%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%A8-%D7%9C%D7%93%D7%95%D7%92%D7%9E%D7%90-%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%94-%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA.pdf

Lapan, R., Kardash, C., & Turner, S. (2002). Empowering students to become self-regulated learners. Professional School Counseling, 257-265.

Appendix

1. What is your educational background and what influenced you to become a school counselor?

Background is in educational psychology. She chose to become a school counselor instead of a private or family counselor because she loves kids and loves to help them. It's the satisfaction of giving back to society.

2. What do you see as the main role of the school counselor?

Main role is to help the students with their problems and listen to what they have to say. It's important to empathize with the student to try and get him close to you so he can open up to you.

3. What is the average age of the students you meet with?

Infant to Junior year in elementary school. (between the ages of 3 and 12 years)

4. What is the role of the school counselor in relation to teachers, parents, and administrators?

The role of the counselor is to abide by the school policies but is free to practice his own techniques. The rules are usually procedures a counselor must follow when reporting on a student or when meeting with a student's parents. The counselor is the mediator between the school's administration and the parents.

5. What types of problems do you face as a school counselor concerning students and parents?

There are always problems, especially in Lebanon. The culture plays a big role. In the Middle East, counseling and therapy are still practices that are not fully accepted yet. Whenever a parent is asked to be involved in a session he/she says that her kid is not crazy or sick and does not need counseling.

However, not all parents are like that, some are understanding and cooperative. It all depends on the person's background and culture and what society you live in.

6. Do you conduct group or individual counseling? Or both?

Conduct individual counseling because students are hyper as it is. It is hard to have a student talk about his problems with other students with him. It is better to have the students counseled individually. Another point is that you cannot trust students at this age to keep what is being said in these sessions in confidence. They might break their confidentiality agreement.

7. What kinds of techniques do you use as a school counselor?

Play theory (play games with the students to make them feel comfortable).

CBT (cognitive behavioral theory). Play theory is more effective.

No psychoanalysis because child is too young at this age.

But it is hard to have the students open up to you because they are young so it takes around 3 sessions to make them feel comfortable.

8. Did you…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Counseling School Counselors Play an
Words: 3837 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

Attitudes toward the teacher-psychologist working relationship and the utility of advice on classroom management were most positive among promoted teachers, followed by psychologists, and then new and unpromoted staff. Student Involvement The attitudes of the students are clearly of importance to the school health counselor and must be taken into account in both the consultative and counseling roles. West, Kayser, Overton, and Saltmarsh (1991) note certain student perceptions that inhibit counseling.

Counseling Groups Give Members the
Words: 9035 Length: 30 Document Type: Research Paper

" This involves coming up with a list of the consequences of reacting to an event (Budman, 1992). This means that they describe what emotions the activating event made them feel. The principles facilitate being rational because they shift focus from emotions to logic. The group gets an opportunity to look at the problems they face from a rational perspective, which creates room for possibilities. Thinking rationally helps in creating many

Counseling Psychology Describe the Mental Hygiene Movement
Words: 1988 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Counseling Psychology Describe the mental hygiene movement in Counseling Psychology. Mental hygiene can be considered as a science of preventing disorders and maintaining a mental health at their full mental capability. This involves the precautions that are taken in order to encourage and safeguard the mental health. It offers therapy for the mentally disturbed, takes preventive measures of the ailment, and also assists in helping the patients cope with this stress. The

Counseling and Personal Values Integrating Learned Theories
Words: 2832 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

Counseling and Personal Values Integrating Learned Theories about Counseling with Your Personal Values As the world has modernized, people have started experiencing more psychological problems and other problems than ever. Despite the normal behavior that most of the people depict, they are a victim of psychological disturbances which ultimately makes them sick. Therefore counseling was introduces as a means to address various kinds of problem that people find difficult to tackle. There

Counseling "Supervision Leads to a
Words: 2108 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

Frankel (2008) argues that formal on-to-one supervision facilitates positive staff development. . Effective supervision practice promotes professional growth and development. An individual staff needs to interact always with a supervisor to enhance knowledge development. With the shortcoming identified in the supervision practice in various professions and my work place, the paper provides recommendations to enhance supervisory practice. Recommendations to enhance Supervisory Practice. Ideal supervisory practice requires good communication. Within a work

Counseling Children Who Have Been
Words: 1630 Length: 6 Document Type: Research Paper

Moreover, maltreated children reveal their feelings and situations when a counselor engages them in group counseling. Younger children perform well with growth playgroups where older children profit from activity groupings and treatment-oriented groups. Groups counseling is essential for sexually abused children because it lowers their guilt, differentness and shame feelings. Group counseling also helps abused children to learn ways in which they can defend themselves from any form of abuse. Counseling

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now