Overview of School Counseling

This course introduces the new Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program (CGCP) of the American School Counseling Association's (ASCA) National Model for elementary, middle/junior high, and high school students. It also presents a systematic approach to the foundation, delivery, management, accountability elements, and implementation of guidance programs in schools.

Topics and Objectives

History of School Counseling

• Identify important historical trends/events that have had a significant impact in shaping counseling and guidance services in today's schools.

ASCA's National Model Themes

• Examine new counseling themes that will be needed to support ASCA's National Model: leadership, advocacy, collaboration and teaming, and systemic change.
• Analyze how the themes assist counselors with students' achievement. Compare and contrast historical school counseling skills with ASCA's new counseling themes.

Foundation: Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program (CGCP)

• Examine the philosophy of ASCA's National Model.
• Create a mission statement that describes ASCA's vision and purpose.
• Define ASCA's National Standards for Student Academic, Career, and
• Personal/Social Development.

Key Components: CGCP

• Define the key components: foundation, delivery system, management system, and accountability.
• Examine the benefits of school counseling programs based on ASCA's National Model.

Delivery System: CGCP

• Define the key components of the delivery system: guidance curriculum, individual student planning, responsive services, and system support.

Management System: CGCP

• Define the key components of the management system: management agreements, advisory counsel, use of data, action plans, use of time, and calendars.

Accountability System: CGCP

• Define the key components of the accountability system: results reports, school counselor performance standards, and program audit.

Implementation: CGCP

• Define the key components of the implementation process: administrative support and preconditions, steps to implementation, and the impact of program transformation.

Ethical Issues in School Counseling

• Examine ASCA's Ethical Standards for School Counselors in relationship to local school and district policies.