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Slide #13 Recommendations / Best Practices

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Slide #13 Recommendations / Best Practices

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Summary: The limitations for school counselors in providing mental health care to students encompass legal compliance, ethical standards, and best practices. School counselors should understand their role, collaborate with licensed professionals, and refer students to external services when long-term counseling is needed. They must maintain professional boundaries, pursue professional development, advocate for comprehensive programs, stay informed about regulations, use technology appropriately, and foster cultural responsiveness.

- Understand legal boundaries and comply with laws regarding student privacy, confidentiality, and reporting obligations.

- Adhere to ethical standards, respecting students' values, beliefs, and identities while avoiding personal biases.

- Collaborate with licensed professionals to provide specialized mental health care beyond the scope of a school counselor's role.

- Refer students to external services for long-term clinical or mental health counseling when necessary.

- Establish and maintain professional boundaries with students to ensure a healthy counselor-student relationship.

- Engage in continuous professional development to stay informed about legal and ethical principles and evidence-based practices.

- Advocate for comprehensive school counseling programs that address mental health concerns within the scope of practice.

- Familiarize yourself with state and local school counseling regulations and ensure compliance.

- Use technology responsibly and ethically to provide resources and support students' well-being while respecting privacy.

- Embrace cultural responsiveness, valuing and respecting students' diverse backgrounds and experiences.

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Appropriate and Inappropriate Activities for School Counselors
www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/8fe536c2-7a32-4102-8ce7-42e9b0683b3b/appropriate-activities-of-school-counselors.pdf

Summary: The document lists appropriate and inappropriate activities for school counselors. Concerning limitations for school counselors in providing long-term mental health care to students, it explicitly states that providing long-term counseling in schools to address psychological disorders is considered an inappropriate activity for school counselors. Instead, it emphasizes the need for external services and long-term clinical mental health counseling support.

ACSA. (2023, February 17). Appropriate and inappropriate activities for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/8fe536c2-7a32-4102-8ce7-42e9b0683b3b/appropriate-activities-of-school-counselors.pdf

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The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) - Ethical Standards for School Counselors
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/44f30280-ffe8-4b41-9ad8-f15909c3d164/EthicalStandards.pdf

“Provide culturally responsive counseling to students in a brief context and support students and families/guardians in obtaining outside services if students need long-term clinical/ mental health counseling” (ASCA, 2022).

Summary: The policy emphasizes that school counselors are responsible for providing culturally responsive counseling to students within a brief context. Additionally, it clearly states that school counselors cannot provide long-term clinical or mental health counseling and should instead assist students and families in accessing external services for such needs.

ASCA. (2022). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/44f30280-ffe8-4b41-9ad8-f15909c3d164/EthicalStandards.pdf

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McKinney ISD. (2022). Student Handbook. https://www.mckinneyisd.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-2023-Student-Handbook.pdf

Summary: The policy on Personal Counseling acknowledges that school counselors are available to support students with personal, social, and family concerns, including emotional or mental health issues and substance abuse. However, it emphasizes that school counselors are not trained to provide ongoing therapeutic mental health counseling. Instead, parents seeking therapeutic support for their children are encouraged to request a list of community resources.

- School counselors assist with personal, social, and family concerns, including mental health and substance abuse.

- Students can access the school counselor by following the campus procedures.

- School counselors are not trained to provide ongoing therapeutic mental health counseling.

- Parents concerned about their child's mental or emotional health can speak with the school counselor.

- Parents seeking therapeutic support can request a list of community resources.

MISD. (2022). McKinney ISD | Student Handbook. McKinney ISD | Student Handbook 2022-2023. https://www.mckinneyisd.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-2023-Student-Handbook.pdf

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Every Student Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6578
www.congress.gov/114/plaws/publ95/PLAW-114publ95.pdf

- School counselors and School Mental Health Practitioners (SMHPs) have distinct roles in supporting students' mental health in schools.
- School counselors provide academic, career, and personal/social counseling, while SMHPs are specialized professionals trained to address psychological and behavioral issues in educational settings.
- School counselors offer general counseling and may provide short-term support, while SMHPs conduct in-depth evaluations, diagnose mental health disorders, and provide long-term therapeutic interventions.

- School counselors collaborate with SMHPs to identify students needing intensive mental health support and facilitate referrals to appropriate professionals.

- School counselors have a broader scope of practice, while SMHPs bring specialized clinical skills to address complex mental health issues.

- Collaboration between school counselors and SMHPs is crucial for a comprehensive approach to student well-being within their respective roles.

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Psychological Services for Schools, 22 TAC § 465.38
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=22&pt=21&ch=465&rl=38

- It acknowledges the special delivery of school psychological services in public and private schools, distinct from private practice.

- LSSPs address psychological and behavioral problems in educational settings, improving students' learning, adjustment, and behavior.

- School psychological services solely for educational purposes fall within the scope of school psychology practice.

- LSSPs in public schools follow nationally recognized standards, while those in private schools comply with Council rules.

- The specialist in school psychology license is limited to providing services in public and private schools.

- Compliance with applicable state and federal laws, such as the Texas Education Code, IDEIA, FERPA, Section 504, ADA, and HIPAA (in private schools), is required for LSSPs.

- Informed consent requirements for LSSPs vary based on the service delivery context.

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Standards Required for the School Counselor Certificate, 19 TAC § 239.15

https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=19&pt=7&ch=239&sch=A&rl=Y

- It outlines the knowledge areas and skills required for school counselors, including counseling theories, career development, cultural factors, and legal/ethical standards.

- School counselors develop comprehensive counseling programs that promote holistic student development, addressing mental health concerns.

- They possess counseling techniques, assessment skills, and consultation abilities and utilize technology to address mental health needs.

- The code emphasizes a learner-centered approach and stakeholder collaboration to identify and address student mental health concerns.

- School counselors advocate for comprehensive programs that address mental health needs within their scope of practice.

- While not explicitly stated, the code's focus on assessing student needs and utilizing evidence-based practices indirectly relates to supporting mental health care.

- Professional development enhances school counselors' competencies in addressing student mental health needs.

- They facilitate access to resources and referrals for students needing specialized mental health care.

- Collaboration with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and the community supports a coordinated approach to student mental health within the counselor's role.

- The code establishes the foundation for school counselors to support students' holistic well-being, including aspects of mental health care within their professional boundaries.

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School Counselors General Duties, Tex. Educ. Code §33.006

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm

- School counselors are not considered mental health professionals under this code.

- Their primary role is to offer students guidance, counseling, and academic support.

- School counselors may provide short-term counseling for immediate concerns affecting educational success.

- Long-term therapy or treatment for mental health issues is outside the scope of their responsibilities.

- School counselors should collaborate with licensed counselors or psychologists for specialized mental health care.

- They should recognize their limitations and refer students to outside professionals when necessary.

- Maintaining boundaries and professional competence is essential for school counselors.

- Adequate training and professional development are crucial for addressing mental health concerns within their role.

- The goal of the code is to ensure students receive appropriate mental health care through collaboration between school counselors and qualified professionals.

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Summary: This article, published by Psychology School Guide, explores the contrasting roles and responsibilities of school and mental health counselors (Psychology School Guide, 2023). It emphasizes the vital role of school counselors in supporting students' academic and social development within the school environment. While mental health counselors focus on clinical therapy and addressing various mental health concerns, school counselors work primarily within educational settings and guide academic success and personal well-being.

Key points:
- School counselors assist students with academic, social, and behavioral challenges in schools.

- Mental health counselors offer clinical therapy for mental health disorders in various settings.

- School counselors prioritize academic planning, personal/social development, and college/career readiness.

- Mental health counselors provide therapy for depression, anxiety, addiction, and trauma.

- School counselors collaborate with teachers and parents to support students' success.

- Mental health counselors have a clinical focus and work in therapeutic settings.

- School counselors cannot provide clinical therapy due to their role within the educational system.

- Educational requirements: Mental health counselors need a master's degree and licensure, while school counselors have degrees in counseling, education, or psychology and may require state certification.

- School counselors adjust their work hours to accommodate students' needs.

- Understanding these differences helps families find appropriate support for their child's needs.

https://www.psychologyschoolguide.net/difference-between-mental-health-counselors-and-school-counselors/

Psychology School Guide. (2023, May). Mental health counselor vs. school counselor - key differences. Psychology School Guide - Accredited Campus & Online Schools |. https://www.psychologyschoolguide.net/difference-between-mental-health-counselors-and-school-counselors/

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Summary: In an article by Cynthia Cox and Nirmita Panchal for the Kaiser Family Foundation (Cox & Panchal, 2022), the importance of current policies in supporting school-based mental health services is highlighted. However, it is essential to recognize the limitations of school counselors in providing comprehensive care. While school counselors play a valuable role in identifying mental health concerns, they are not equipped to offer long-term care, emphasizing the need for specialized professionals such as psychologists and social workers.

Key points:

- Recent policies support school-based mental health services.

- School counselors are instrumental in identifying mental health concerns.

- School counselors primarily offer short-term and preventive services.

- Long-term care requires the expertise of specialized professionals.

- Psychologists and social workers are crucial in addressing complex mental health needs.

https://www.kff.org/other/issue-brief/the-landscape-of-school-based-mental-health-services/

Cox, C., & Panchal, N. (2022, September 6). The landscape of school-based mental health services. KFF. https://www.kff.org/other/issue-brief/the-landscape-of-school-based-mental-health-services/

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The ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (ASCA, 2022) outline limitations for school counselors in providing mental health care to students. School counselors are encouraged to provide culturally responsive counseling to students in a brief context while supporting students and families in obtaining long-term clinical or mental health counseling when needed. They should not diagnose students but recognize how a diagnosis and environment can impact academic and social/emotional success. Respecting students' values, beliefs, and identities is essential while avoiding personal biases. Confidentiality is crucial, and counselors should disclose information only when necessary to prevent harm, following legal requirements and involving students to the extent possible. Collaboration with stakeholders, a comprehensive school counseling program, and addressing personal biases and inequitable practices are emphasized. Finally, school counselors must maintain professional boundaries and relationships to foster wellness and student success.

ASCA. (2022). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors - American School Counselor Association (ASCA). https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Ethical-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselors-(1)

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The topic of limitations for school counselors in providing mental health care to students is of utmost importance due to its profound impact on school counseling. Recognizing these limitations is crucial for several reasons:

Student Well-being: Students' mental health directly influences their well-being and academic success. By understanding the limitations, school counselors can navigate them effectively and ensure that students receive the necessary support and resources to thrive emotionally and academically.

Legal Compliance: Schools operate within a complex legal framework, and counselors must adhere to laws and regulations concerning student privacy, confidentiality, reporting obligations, and more. Awareness of legal limitations ensures that counselors operate within the bounds of the law and protect students' rights while providing effective care.

Ethical Responsibilities: Ethical considerations guide the professional practice of school counselors. Understanding the ethical limitations helps counselors maintain the highest standards of care, confidentiality, and professional conduct, fostering trust with students, parents, and the educational community.

Collaboration and Advocacy: By acknowledging the limitations, school counselors can collaborate with other professionals, such as mental health providers, administrators, and policymakers. They can advocate for necessary policies, procedures, and resource changes to better address students' mental health needs within the school setting.

Professional Development: Recognizing the limitations creates opportunities for ongoing professional development. Counselors can continually enhance their knowledge, skills, and awareness of legal and ethical principles, ensuring they remain well-informed and capable of adapting to changes in the field.

In summary, understanding the limitations in providing mental health care is crucial for school counselors as it impacts their ability to effectively support students, maintain legal compliance, uphold ethical responsibilities, collaborate with stakeholders, advocate for necessary changes, and pursue ongoing professional development. The school counseling field can better serve students' holistic well-being and academic success by addressing these limitations.

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In my role as a future school counselor, my genuine desire to help and support students is what propels me forward. Having previously been a teacher, I am well aware of the limitations of providing support beyond the classroom. However, my strong relationships with students have given me a unique perspective. To better navigate these boundaries, I am committed to continuous education and staying informed about legal and ethical considerations surrounding mental health care. With this knowledge, I will be better equipped to assess the scope of my role and provide the necessary guidance and resources to address students' mental health needs. I prioritize their well-being and academic growth, creating a safe and supportive environment.