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Further information and resources can be found at: https://www2.ed.gov/documents/students/supporting-child-student-social-emotional-behavioral-mental-health.pdf

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References
Center Grove Community School Corporation. (n.d). School Counseling & Mental Health / Grades K-5 Lessons: Social Emotional Learning. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://www.centergrove.k12.in.us/Page/12996

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While completing the School Counselor Competency Assessment, I found myself reflecting on the skills I have developed through my career working in my community and how they can be transferred to the responsibilities and standards of school counselors. It was encouraging to acknowledge a lot of those leadership and development skills will be useful when it comes to implementing a school counseling program. Overall, I’d say my average was toward the middle when it came to skills and level of comfort.
I felt most confident when it came to the required mindsets, ethical behavior, leadership, and implementing a comprehensive program. Planning and assessment are the areas I need the most improvement and practice. I hope to learn more about how a counseling lesson plan is created and how to assess the impact of the lessons. The other area I was less confident in is B-PF-2-C: Expand or inform policy development at a school or district level (ASCA, p. 96). I’ve done policy development before, however, not in a school or district setting. I'm very hopeful that all of these skills will develop and improve throughout the duration of my program with tangible practice.

References
American School Counselor Association (2019). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs (4th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association

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Personal Philosophy of School Counseling 

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Personal Philosophy of School Counseling 

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The school counseling program that I want to develop promotes physical and emotional safety at school, belonging, and self-awareness for all students. I believe that every student can reach their potential and work toward a balanced and healthy life. As a school counselor, I take the responsibility of being an adult in a student's life who can assist in navigating challenges and developing a positive trajectory. I will follow through on my commitments, act to address injustice, and conduct myself with the highest level of ethics and integrity.

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School Counseling Programs Have a Positive Impact in Schools 

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School Counseling Programs Have a Positive Impact in Schools 

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I selected this article to show that school counseling programs are the ideal format to conduct preventative programs in schools that promote immediate and ongoing well-being to students.

This article addresses the concern that drug and alcohol use among teenagers is still common and can hinder brain development (Foss-Kelly et.al, 2021). The school counseling program was used to implement a prevention program study on a group of high school freshmen. They utilized strategies such as motivational interviewing, promoting coping skills in students, and understanding peer influence - to support the implementation of this study (Foss-Kelly et.al, 2021). Results included a rise in healthier perspectives on drug use and no increase in reported substance use (Foss-Kelly et.al, 2021). There is much more to consider, however, this article shows the promising prospect of substance use prevention programs in counseling programs at school (Foss-Kelly et.al, 2021). This lines well with one of the main initiatives of school counselors, which is to promote social and emotional well-being. One could argue that substance use/abuse also impacts academic and career outcomes.

References

Foss-Kelly, L. L., Generali, M. M., & Crowley, M. J. (2021). Making choices and reducing risk (MCARR): School Counseling Primary Prevention of Substance Use. The Professional Counselor, 11(3), 352–369. https://doi.org/10.15241/llfk.11.3.352

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IAT Implicit Bias Test Results Reflection 

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IAT Implicit Bias Test Results Reflection 

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Having taken implicit bias tests before, I was curious to see how mine have shifted in the past couple of years. It was hard to narrow it down to only two, so I decided to take a few and write about the two that are currently most prevalent to me. When I first saw my results for each of the IAT implicit bias tests, I was a bit surprised. If I'm completely honest, I hoped to not have many biases. However, I can see that is not realistic and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Especially when it came to my slight bias toward Hispanic people. Being half-Hispanic, I can see how I gravitate toward others who I share commonalities with.  Where I grew up, there were not very many multiracial people so I often found myself looking for others in a room who look similar to me. I've learned to blend in quickly over the years by showing kindness and consideration to all, however, it is important to be aware of these biases. This is especially true when it comes to school counseling and the students I will find myself working with.
The sexuality bias test was somewhat surprising, as many people in my circle identify as LGBTQ+ and I am an ally. If anything, I thought there might be a slight preference present but my results showed more neutrality. Which could be ultimately helpful in this profession. Taking these studies was enlightening and I'm going to continue to take these tests to work on my awareness.

References
Project Implicit. (n.d.). Take a test. Retrieved from https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html