Year: 1997
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Counselors in public schools face an increasing variety of job definitions.Their activities are extensive and include interacting with students and various agencies within the community.Historically, counselors have assumed responsibilities and duties outside the scope of their training.While counselors in the field are struggling with the rapid changes, counselor educators are rethinking the changing needs in counselor education.To develop sound training programs for counselors and ongoing professional development activities, practicing school counselors and counselor educators need to professionally interact to define the role of both the counselor and the university educator.If those responsible for the profession do not take leadership in defining the direction of the field, it certainly will be imposed upon them by outside forces.Therefore, the purpose of this study was two fold.In the first phase, survey data were analyzed to describe (a) what duties comprise a Montana school counselor's job and (b) how counselors prioritize these duties.In the second phase of the study, qualitative data were used to describe the recommendations from the Montana school counselors for the state's counselor education programs.Almost 90% of the counselors responding to this study received their training through Montana counselor education programs.Almost every respondent reported receiving additional training in specific areas related to the needs of the students in their communities.The majority of the counselors worked full time and engaged in a wide variety of activities.While recent studies have found that school counselors are more effective in group work and in classroom guidance and consultation than in individual counseling, over 40% of their time was spent with individuals.Crisis response was more prevalent than pro-active planned counseling programs.The counselors and counselor educators need to continue to facilitate the growth of school counseling and to enhance the abilities of the school counselor to meet the rapidly changing needs in our society.Adult education principles and practices were an important factor in this study.The counselors became self-directed learners and the counselors and counselor educators have begun a dialog to promote rational thought and action.
Author: Mary Lynn McCroskey
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W999522102