Introduction to School Counseling

Robert Wright earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 1966, and began teaching high school science. A few years later in 1969 he earned a Masters degree in school counseling from West Chester University and was employed as a public school counselor, first with high school students and later with middle school students. In 1974 he completed a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Educational Psychology with specializations in child & adolescent development and educational measurement from Temple University. As part of that degree he completed a clinical fellowship in rehabilitation counseling at Moss Hospital, part of the Albert Einstein Medical Center (Philadelphia). Following graduation he completed advanced studies in school psychology at Lehigh University. Professor Wright has taught counseling and supervised counseling interns and has also taught educational measurement, and educational statistics & research for graduate students in counseling. He is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American School Counselor Association, the American Psychological Association (Division 17, counseling psychology), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the American Educational Research Association. He is professionally licensed to practice in Pennsylvania. During his career Professor Wright chaired 114 doctoral dissertations, published and presented over 120 articles and paper presentations and has had four books published.

“[This] is a highly engaging book for those preparing to become school counselors. Faced with thought-provoking cases, discussion questions and recommended readings, this book provides a practical overview of school counseling from pre-K through high school settings. Wright does an excellent job describing ASCA’s recommended best practices for school counselors, as well as highlighting other duties that may be required by building administrators, job descriptions or local school boards. His understanding of current school counseling is evident in the relevance and breadth of scenarios and real-world examples. [This book] illuminates the challenges faced in schools today. [It] is an informative introductory text or a valuable addition to a reference shelf for professional school counselors.”

• 1. School Counseling, an Evolving Profession2. Professional Counseling in the Schools3. Counseling With Young Children, Prekindergarten to Grade 54. School Counseling in the Middle School5. Counseling in High Schools6. Models and Approaches for School Counseling7. Counseling Children With Educational and Special Needs8. School Counseling With a Diverse Population of Students9. Social Problems and Emergency Counseling in the Schools10. School Testing Programs and the School Counselor11. Professional School Counselors as Consultants12. Professional School Counselors With Parents and the Greater Community13. Counselor’s Role in Career Development and Planning14. Data Management, Action Research, and the Evaluation of School Counseling ProgramsGlossaryReferencesAbout the Author