What would a more comprehensive, practical, and customized solution-focused brief counseling (SFBC) book look like for school counselors if it were available today? Solution-Focused School Counseling: The Missing Manual is what I pictured when I imagined the answer to that hypothetical question. Although helpful to other professionals such as social workers, clinical mental health counselors, and couples counselors, this book was written just for you, the school counselor. After reading Solution-Focused School Counseling: The Missing Manual, you will have a clearer understanding of the ins and outs of the SFBC approach. You'll be better able to picture how the model works across different parts of your job, with all kids, and among various issues. You will also be better equipped to navigate the common sticking points that some counselors experience. First, you will learn about the principles, guidelines, and techniques of solution-focused brief counseling. Then, you will discover practical ways you can use the SFBC model in different areas such as: Advising and Career Counseling Classroom Lessons Conflict Resolution Individual Counseling Leadership Parent Conferences Peer Helping Play Counseling Program Development Small Group Counseling Supervision Teacher Consultation and Support You'll also learn how to collect solution-focused data, adapt teaching activities for the classroom, and integrate SFBC with other approaches such as rational-emotive behavior therapy, reality therapy, and behavior modification. The Missing Manual also includes several authentic transcripts that demonstrate the methods in different situations. From understanding solution-focused brief counseling to applying it throughout your program, this book gives you detailed information to get yourself to the next level. Both in-service practitioners and pre-service graduate students will find Solution-Focused School Counseling: The Missing Manual an excellent resource for becoming a solution-focused school counselor.

“The College Solution helps readers look beyond over-hyped admission rankings to discover schools that offer a quality education at affordable prices. Taking the guesswork out of saving and finding money for college, this is a practical and insightful must-have guide for every parent!” —Jaye J. Fenderson, Seventeen’s College Columnist and Author, Seventeen’s Guide to Getting into College “This book is a must read in an era of rising tuition and falling admission rates. O’Shaughnessy offers good advice with blessed clarity and brevity.” —Jay Mathews, Washington Post Education Writer and Columnist “I would recommend any parent of a college-bound student read The College Solution.” —Kal Chany, Author, The Princeton Review’s Paying for College Without Going Broke “The College Solution goes beyond other guidebooks in providing an abundance of information about how to afford college, in addition to how to approach the selection process by putting the student first.” —Martha “Marty” O’Connell, Executive Director, Colleges That Change Lives “Lynn O’Shaughnessy always focuses on what’s in the consumer’s best interest, telling families how to save money and avoid making costly mistakes.” —Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher, FinAid.org and Author, FastWeb College Gold “An antidote to the hype and hysteria about getting in and paying for college! O’Shaughnessy has produced an excellent overview that demystifies the college planning process for students and families.” —Barmak Nassirian, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers For millions of families, the college planning experience has become extremely stressful. And, unless your child is an elite student in the academic top 1%, most books on the subject won’t help you. Now, however, there’s a college guide for everyone. In The College Solution, top personal finance journalist Lynn O’Shaughnessy presents an easy-to-use roadmap to finding the right college program (not just the most hyped) and dramatically reducing the cost of college, too. Forget the rankings! Discover what really matters: the quality and value of the programs your child wants and deserves. O’Shaughnessy uncovers “industry secrets” on how colleges actually parcel out financial aid—and how even “average” students can maximize their share. Learn how to send your kids to expensive private schools for virtually the cost of an in-state public college...and how promising students can pay significantly less than the “sticker price” even at the best state universities. No other book offers this much practical guidance on choosing a college...and no other book will save you as much money! • Secrets your school’s guidance counselor doesn’t know yet The surprising ways colleges have changed how they do business • Get every dime of financial aid that’s out there for you Be a “fly on the wall” inside the college financial aid office • U.S. News & World Report: clueless about your child Beyond one-size-fits-all rankings: finding the right program for your teenager • The best bargains in higher education Overlooked academic choices that just might be perfect for you

This book of readings presents 33 articles that address topics of importance to counselors who serve middle school students. It was written for counselors already working in middle schools and for individuals who are preparing for careers as middle school counselors. The book will also benefit both elementary school counselors who help children make the transition from elementary to middle school and high school counselors who work with adolescents making the transition from middle school into high school. It deals with how counselors in middle schools can help early adolescents face the challenges of adolescence, noting that middle school counseling programs should focus on preparing students for the increased independence of high school life that is typically accompanied by more social pressures and increased stress. The chapters in this book offer many ideas for helping young people improve their sense of self, their decision-making capabilities, their interpersonal relationships, their academic skills, and their abilities to deal with stress. Chapters contain articles that have been invited for the book in addition to articles that have been published in various counseling journals. Each chapter contains an introduction by the editors and a collection of articles on a particular topic. Individual chapters focus on: (1) self-discovery; (2) family relationships; (3) peer pressure and drug abuse; (4) stress and suicide; (5) sexual maturation; (6) academic achievement; (7) career exploration; and (8) organizing a middle school counseling program. (NB)

The purpose of this study was to identify the varieties of factors that affect school counselors' ability to use best practices in their roles as CTE professionals at middle school and high school in the XYZ School District. Interviews were conducted and featured 14 open-ended questions that were distributed to all the middle school and high school counselors in the XYZ School District to gather information about challenges facing middle school and high school counselors who provide career guidance in schools. The findings of this study indicated that that the heavy caseload and limited amount of total career counseling time are the significant challenges that influence middle school and high school counselors' ability to implement career counseling in the XYZ School District. In addition, the lack of theory of CTE and application of that knowledge along with the misconception about the merits of CTE in the eyes of parents were the main challenges that middle school and high school counselors from XYZ School District face while in supporting in CTE. Recommendations for this study and further study to educate middle school and high school counselors in the XYZ School District were included at the end.

An expanded edition filled with ideas, strategies, and tools for school counselors This Survival Guide helps counselors plan and implement an effective counseling program tailored to the needs of all students. Step by step, the book walks readers through every aspect of the school counselor job, including: designing a comprehensive counseling program, communicating with students and fellow staff, facilitating groups, promoting positive school discipline, integrating a guidance curriculum, intervening in times of crisis, and taking personal and professional care of oneself. Discusses how to reach out to diverse student and parent populations Shows how to integrate the American School Counselor Association's National Model for designing, delivering, and evaluating a school's counseling program Reveals how new technology can improve services to students and parents Other titles by Wiggin: I.O.U.S.A., Demise of the Dollar, and Financial Reckoning Day This comprehensive resource also includes a wealth of reproducible worksheets, letters, checklists, and forms designed to save time and effort for busy school counselors.

School counseling strategies that promote student success The challenge? At least 1 in 5 children in the United States has some type of mental disorder. School counselors can make a big difference in these children's lives. In a succinct Q&A format, the authors provide school counselors and educational leaders with: 101 solutions to common counseling issues across the K-12 spectrum on topics ranging from data-driven counseling to bullying, college and career readiness, and cultural considerations Stories of school counselors and educational leaders who have successfully implemented these solutions Numerous print and digital resources for further exploration