Running head: BELIEF STATEMENT 1

School Counselor Belief Statement

Ryan Bunda
Seattle University
COUN 509
2/6/2012


2
SCHOOL CONSELOR BELIEF STATEMENT

School Counselor Belief Statement
The goal of the Masters in School Counseling program at Seattle University is to provide
an education to future counselors that will empower them to advocate for their students and stand
up for social justice within the school systems they work for. The ASCA model has become an
important tool for counselors that provide a framework for us to work by (ASCA, 2005). The
model ensures that our efforts and time are efficiently utilized and have a positive impact with
the students, faculty, and families we will work with in our professional careers. This paper will
discuss what I have learned in my short time here in the program including: my theoretical
orientation, personal views on the role of a school counselor, the importance of the ASCA
model, areas of special interest, and ways in which I can implement social justice as a counselor.
My theoretical model orientation that I began with in COUN 511 was a combination
of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and multicultural counseling. Though this is the
beginning frameworks of my theoretical model I am a firm believer that an integration of all
orientations should be utilized in the counseling profession. Much like my approach to
counseling, my theoretical orientation should always be changing in order to meet the needs of
the clients or students I work with. With that being said, I believe that cognitive behavioral
therapy and multicultural counseling can be effective in school counseling for students K-12.
The concepts of positive/negative reinforcement and positive/negative punishment as well as
social learning are concepts of CBT that can be used in an everyday role as a school counselor
(Ivey, DAndrea, and Ivey, 2010). When faculty or students come to me with a problem its
important to note how and why their behavior is being influenced and what needs to be done to
3
SCHOOL CONSELOR BELIEF STATEMENT
either decrease or increase the wanted behavior for the future. Combining these factors of CBT
along with an awareness of how multicultural factors can impact the way a person may perceive
or behave in a school setting assists me in becoming a well rounded and effective counselor.
Whats been rewarding about this class is that weve had the opportunity to learn and get
insight from a professor as well as a panel of school counselors that are currently working in the
field. Originally I believed that the main duty of a school counselor was more focused on the
counselor part of the title, meaning that most of the time on the job was one on one time with
students and assisting them in finding solutions to their problems. After this class Ive now been
introduced to the reality that the role of a counselor is more complex but at the same time more
critical to the school. Responsibilities such as response to interventions (RtI), collaboratively
working with faculty and students, maintaining a safe and supportive environment, and
empowering students to receive higher education were tasks I previously did not associate with
the duties of a school counselor (Dahir & Stone, 2012). Its encouraging to know that my career
choice will impact the lives of so many. This is why the counselors role in encouraging all
students to seek a higher education is so important. The way our economy is right now higher
forms of education are becoming a requirement for more jobs. By empowering students to seek
a college education or other forms of higher education, the counselor can assist students by
opening up opportunities for them to seek out a successful future.
The ASCA Ethical Standards are a major guideline to be used in the school counselor
profession. These guidelines make it a point to provide counseling for everyone regardless of
differences such as race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc (ASCA, 2005).
When we help those within our school, it is important that we maintain professional
4
SCHOOL CONSELOR BELIEF STATEMENT
relationships. One way to do this is by keeping our personal opinions and views separate from
those we work with. It is easy to think the way we view the world is the superior form, but its
critical to remember that everyone behaves the way they do because of different reasons.
Another way is to maintain confidentiality and to know what information needs to be reported
and what doesnt. If personal information about a student is made public without their consent
not only does it have the potential to hurt the relationship with the client, but it may also cause
more difficulties in their lives. This is why the ASCA framework is always important to consider
when providing counseling.
Two areas of counseling that are of special interest to me are career/higher education
preparation and bullying. One of my main goals as a counselor will be to make sure the students
I work with are set up for a successful future. Im passionate about helping students discover a
greater understanding about themselves and their interests in life and empowering them to seek a
career or further education. I find it rewarding to benefit the student by discovering ways in
which they can obtain their future goals. In regards to the bullying Ive noticed that bullying has
progressively become a bigger problem from school to school. It is unfortunate that students
have to suffer through ridicule and verbal harassment because of their differences from one
another. Most people have had experience with some type of bullying and the sad reality is that
bullying happens at the expense of another person. Its a trend that I believe should receive zero
tolerance within schools. I believe that the differences we have from one another should be
appreciated rather that discriminated against. The way counselors can be proactive against
bullying can be closely related to social justice and advocacy.
5
SCHOOL CONSELOR BELIEF STATEMENT
Social justice is an important factor that as a counselor I must strive for. Diversity and
multiculturalism are quickly becoming a bigger part of schools across the country. It is the
responsibility of the counselor to implement ways in which the school can become more
accepting of peoples differences. A point I made in my presentation about multiple identities, is
that there are so many ways people can identify themselves. The school community needs to be
a safe environment in which students and faculty can be comfortable openly expressing those
identities. As counselors we need to always be striving to learn more about these differences and
to promote acceptance throughout our schools.
In conclusion I feel truly fortunate to be a part of a program that doesnt just strive to
create school counselors, but strives to produce school counselors that will make a positive
difference in the world. This class and this program have given me a feeling of empowerment.
A sense that I can use what Ive learned to help an infinite amount of people that I will encounter
in my career. Using the ASCA model as a guideline and social justice as a goal; Im optimistic
on the impact I can have on the field of education as a counselor in the near future.

6
SCHOOL CONSELOR BELIEF STATEMENT
References
American School Counselor Association. (2005). The ASCA national model: A framework for
school counseling programs (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor
Association.

Ivey, A. E., DAndrea, M. J., & Ivey, M. B. (2011). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy:
A multiculturalperspective (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage


Stone, C. B., & Dahir, C. A. (2012). The transformed school counselor (2
nd
ed.). Belmont, CA:
Brooks/Cole.