My Philosophy of School Counseling by Jerusha Knight

My Core Beliefs

jerushaknight — 2024-01-08 16:53:48 UTC

I believe all students can be successful, when they have the right support. Many students, that I have encountered, struggle with identifying, leaning on, and utilizing available supports. They also are afraid to challenge the norms of what that support system can be and should be for them. I believe students forget or don’t realize the power they have over their own success and the team around them to help them achieve it.

The Role of the School Counselor

jerushaknight — 2024-01-08 16:56:28 UTC

The role of the School Counselor is to advocate for each student, with their support and understanding. I believe if all students had more information, and understood the information, they would be better advocates for themselves, and able to make informed decisions regarding their overall well-being. With the support and resources of the School Counselors students will be able to create a plan, set goals, and actually meet them. School Counselors job as an advocate is to help them understand their control and how to use it to benefit from it to be self-manageable (2019).

Ethical Standards

jerushaknight — 2024-01-08 16:58:27 UTC

Ethical Standards guide the work of School Counselors because it is the framing box that we work in. Ethical standards show the boundaries that School Counselors must stay in for their own professionalism, which helps guide student success and accountability for all parties. Ethical Standards keep School Counselors aware of what guides our vision and mission. Standards that I’d like to learn more about are: Collaboration and Referrals. I’d like to learn more about the process for referrals and the ins and outs of building relationships with the community for student success.

My Program

jerushaknight — 2024-01-08 17:00:29 UTC

A School Counselor program I would establish begins with of course, introductions. One of the requirements of my program would be at least monthly “Town Halls”. During these Town Halls, we would recognize the growth and development of the student body. Similar to an awards assembly but more so recognizes the small things most students really want to be seen for and appreciated for. Awards given for being observed helping a peer, Ignoring Negativity, Promoting School Spirit, Creating a Club, Mending a Relationship with a Peer, Showing Conflict Resolution Skills, etc. Also, we would include available resources to students. Brief descriptions of partnerships with the school that are available to all students. I feel this would serve in a positive way because it allows students to know what’s available to them, which in hopes, would encourage them to seek the assistance to use them. My program, would require having a team of School Counselors and related staff, so that there can be an actual open-door policy for helping the student body. My hope is to have Junior Counselors, who would be students (who have overcome their own difficulties and/or students who are mature and volunteer), that serve as mentors also. This gives the students someone they can hopefully relate to and also use as a part of their support system. My hope is to bring inclusivity and fairness, (so as not to focus solely on the students who are having hard times) as well as a lot of school spirit to School Counseling. One goal is that no one “fears” speaking to a counselor or utilizing services, but they actually want to without hesitation to help themselves. Another goal is that they become so sure of the Counseling Department, they want to take a role in heling and advocating for themselves.

The Vision

jerushaknight — 2024-01-08 17:02:55 UTC

My vision for my future role as a School Counselor is first and foremost to “Set the Tone”. I believe that overall success is boundary and limit free. I plan to encourage my students to change and/or enhance their mindsets to believe not only in themselves, the how and why they will succeed but, also to put in the work to maintain those successes. Through communication, personal growth and development, and goal setting, they can explore any pathway they want because they have prepared for it.

The Statement

jerushaknight — 2024-01-08 17:03:47 UTC

It is my goal to help students create a vision for themselves, utilizing the team, they have created, around them to guide them towards the level of success that benefits them. Students will re-define what success looks like for them, after understanding the importance of, creating, and using a support system. Everyone needs someone.

SC Competency Assessment Reflection

jerushaknight — 2024-01-09 15:57:28 UTC

ASCA Lesson Plan + Reflection + Reference

jerushaknight — 2024-01-09 18:29:11 UTC

Implicit Bias Results & Reflection

jerushaknight — 2024-01-12 14:57:20 UTC

Advocacy Info Graphic

jerushaknight — 2024-01-12 17:55:29 UTC

Learning to speak up for yourself is hard work. Not feeling supported when you begin to advocate for yourself, is even harder. School Counseling Programs, encourage students to do what is necessary for their long-term success, and utilizing one's own voice, to find resolutions is top 3 in my book.

The following link is helpful in taking those fist steps:

https://thearc.org/get-involved/self-advocacy/

Peer Reviewed Article & Reflection

jerushaknight — 2024-01-12 19:37:43 UTC