Blog #3

          One thing that I have been thinking about much more since I started this class is the balancing act that we all must become experts at.  After reading the case study in the chapter, it became much more clear to me that I am going to have to “let go” in my school counseling role.  I say that because my natural reaction after reading the case study was much like Mr. Paulson’s.  I immediately was trying to think about solutions for the family outside of the school.  I wanted to “fix” the problem and make it better for Ty right away.  Since many of us want to build a career around helping children, I think it is only natural to want to do everything possible to find solutions to make a child’s situation better at school and at home.  The difficult task for me will be to find a reasonable compromise between wanting to “fix” a child’s unfortunate circumstance, as opposed to simply trying to help guide/assist them through the unfortunate circumstance.  As much as I would like to say that I will learn these skills in my Graduate Program here at Millersville, I think that experiencing it first hand will be much more effective. 

            Another extremely important aspect of being a school counselor is making sure to have reliable resources available.  The ASCA National Model is available to us for a reason.  After I read the article about the overall effectiveness of the model in an urban setting, I must say that I was quite surprised about how well aligned the model is.  The very first thing I thought of after being introduced to the model was, “there is no way that this can work in an inner-city school the same way it can work in a “rich” school.”  I of course still have doubts based on the sample size, location, school districts involved, research bias, etc.  However, after reading the article by Walsh, Barrett, & Depaul, I would say that I definitely have more confidence about the overall effectiveness of the model.

            Along with the model, having effective Comprehensive School Counseling Programs in place that align with the model is also extremely important.  After reading through Chapter 4, I have a much better understanding about the great amount of detail and thought that goes into creating a Holistic, Systemic, Well Balanced, Proactive, Academic, and Reflective program.  I am excited, but still a little apprehensive about creating our own programs, but also think that it will be great experience for all of us.  

Dollarhide, C. T., & Saginak, K. A. (2012). Comprehensive School Counseling Programs.
            (2nd ed.). New York: Pearson, Inc.

Walsh, M.E., Barrett, J. G., & DePaul, J. (2007). Day-to-Day Activities of School

            Counselors: Alignment with New Directions in the Field and the ASCA National

            Model. Professional School Counseling. 10(4), 370-378.