Books To Assist Teens Dealing with Difficult Issues

The following list of  books covers sensitive topics, and is intended  for teens to assist readers come to a better understanding of some of life’s most difficult situations.

During their adolescent years, kids face a plethora of tough challenges. Whether you’re a school counselor, teacher, school administrator, or parent of a teen,  it is important to understand the issues that today's teenagers may be dealing with on a day-to-day basis. 

The books on our list can help you better understand the dilemmas and struggles that the adolescents you work with may be facing, and provide an avenue for difficult discussions. 

Books on Sensitive Topics for Teens:

1. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

In this touching, heartbreaking love story, the two main characters learn how to deal with grief, death, and depression.

2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Nominated for a National Book Award when it was first published, this book illustrates the silencing that sexual assault survivors face all too often.

3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell intertwines themes of poverty and abuse in this refreshing story about young love.

4. The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

This book is an inspiring real-life story about the plight of youth in the ghetto, and is a moving exploration of how our choices can shape us.

5. If You Feel Too Much by Jamie Tworkowski & Donald Miller

This is the story that gave birth to To Write Love on Her Arms, an internationally-recognized nonprofit dedicated to providing hope for those struggling with addiction and depression.

7. Just Keep Breathing by Reggie Dabbs & John Driver

This book is  a collection of real-life letters from individuals in tough situations and the responses written back to them by Reggie Dabbs, who is one of the most sought-after public school and event speakers in the United States over the past two decades.  Just Keep Breathing equips its readers to better help those in crisis.

If you’re interested in finding more books for teens who are dealing with difficult issues, check out the links below:

– Top 10 Books Dealing with Mental Illness–
– Take 5: Importance Books on a Difficult Topic 
— Sexual Violence in the Lives of Teens
– Take 5: Books About Suicide
– 10 Young Adult Books That Teach Teens About Difficult Issues
– The American School Counselor Association’s School Counseling Essentials Catalog

Kristine Kilgour, M.Ed., LPSC
School Counselor & Mediator
rfhscounselor@gmail.com
counselorcarryout.blogspot.com

ASCA Approved Time Distribution & Activities For School Counselors

The purpose of National School Counseling Week is to focus public attention on the unique contributions of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school, behavioral and emotional, and future success. 

Most school counselors are keenly aware of their ethical duty to advocate for their 

profession; however, many ask what information is most important to share.

Because districts have local control over how they budget their money, and a large 

amount of control currently in helping counselors align with national and state 

standards through an ASCA endorsed developmental counseling program, it is 

crucial that school counselors continuously help school board members, 

administrators, and the community recognize the standards set for school 

counselors, the importance of a developmental school counseling program, and the 

unique skillset school counselors have been trained to perform. Studies show that 

school counselors are integral to student success, especially when allowed to 

function using their skills and training to create developmental programs within their 

schools. 

How Should A School Counselor's Time Be Spent?

Distribution and Appropriate Uses of School Counselor Time

What Are The Appropriate School Counselor Activities?

ASCA Appropriate Activities for School Counselors :

*Working with students to provide small and large-group counseling services 

*Documenting school counseling contacts and activities 

*Consulting and collaborating with teachers to present guidance curriculum lessons 

*Consulting and collaborating with teachers to improve classroom management skills 

*Interpreting cognitive, aptitude, and achievement tests 

*Theory based individual counseling with students

*Theory based small group counseling with students

*Consulting with parents

*Disaggregating data  

*Theory based counseling with at risk students

*Appropriate referral of students with extended therapeutic needs (more than 6-8 sessions per occurrence)

*Interpreting student records 

*Assisting the school principal with identifying and resolving student issues, needs and problems 

*Advocating for students at individual plan meetings, student study teams and school attendance review boards 

Inappropriate Activities for School Counselors: 

*Building the master schedule and registering all students 

*Registering and scheduling new students 

*Coordinating or administering cognitive, aptitude and achievement tests 

*Signing excuses for students who are tardy or absent 

*Performing disciplinary actions 

*Sending students home who are not appropriately dressed 

*Teaching classes when teachers are absent 

*Computing grade-point averages 

*Maintaining student records 

*Clerical duties

*Supervising study halls 

*Supervising classrooms or common areas

*Maintaining clerical records 

*Assisting with administrative duties 

*Preparing IEPs (individual education plans) 

*Managing school attendance review boards 

*Schedule changes

*Data entry

Adapted from Campbell, C.A. (1997). Sharing the vision: The ASCA national standards for school counseling programs, Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association; and Trotter, et. al. (2008). The 7Cs School Counseling Model.

Happy National School Counseling Week 2016!!!

Kristine Kilgour, M.Ed., LPSC

School Counselor & Supreme Court Approved Mediator

rfhscounselor@gmail.com

National School Counseling Week 2016: A Recipe For Success!

As you’re all aware by now, it's that special time of year again...National School Counseling Week!  

As nice as the appreciation we end up receiving during National School Counseling Week is, remember that educating others, and advocating for the school counseling profession, is the reason National School Counseling Week was established. This is our time to show the world who we are, and what we contribute to our schools.  This year's theme is School Counseling: The Recipe For Success! 

Whether this is your first, or your twenty-fifth, year of celebrating our  awesome profession, it’s important for professional school counselors to showcase their importance, and to fulfill the ethical duty of advocating for the profession!

You can advocate for your profession by understanding and advocating for appropriate school counselor performance processes that are based on school counselor competencies and the implementation of the comprehensive school counseling program, advocate for compliance with ASCA standards within your school counseling program, and advocate for ASCA’s appropriate school counseling activities within your school.

Want to know more about ASCA’s School Counselor Competencies?  Click HERE! *This, among others, is a great document to share with administration to increase their awareness, too!

I hope you’re having a wonderful National School Counseling Week!

Kristine Kilgour, M.Ed., LPSC

School Counselor & Supreme Court Approved Mediator

counselorcarryout.blogspot.com

rfhscounselor@gmail.com

National School Counseling Week 2016

The Professional School Counselor

The professional school counselor is a certified/licensed educator with the minimum of a master’s degree who has completed a 48-60 hour graduate program, has done a research project and thesis, has passed state testing requirements (or has passed the National Counselor Certification), has passed a rigorous comprehensive exam, and has spent 700 hours, or more, honing counseling theories and skills through direct contact during counseling labs, practicums, and internships. Professional school counselors are  trained in school counseling with unique qualifications and skills to address the academic, personal/social, and future/career development needs through the implementation a theory based, data driven comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student achievement. Professional school counselors are employed in elementary, middle/junior high and high schools and in district supervisory, counselor education and post-secondary settings. Their work is differentiated by attention to developmental stages of student growth, including the needs, tasks and student interests related to those stages.

Professional school counselors serve a vital role in maximizing student achievement. In fact, a study by Carrell and Hoekstra, found that adding one counselor to a school is “roughly twice as effective as hiring additional teachers to reduce class sizes.” (Carrell & Hoekstra, 2010). The study further found that by using school counselors in the effective ways in which they were trained, and there were more school counselors to help students, graduation rates, college going rates, coping skills, and all around personal and social success would improve.

Through the incorporation of leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, professional school counselors promote equity and access to opportunities and rigorous educational experiences for all students. Professional school counselors support a safe learning environment and work to safeguard the human rights of all members of the school community. Collaborating with other stakeholders to promote student achievement and social growth, professional school counselors address the needs of all students through prevention and intervention programs that are a part of a comprehensive school counseling program.

To achieve maximum program effectiveness, the American School Counselor Association recommends a counselor-to-student ratio of 1:250.

Professional school counselors abide by the laws of the states in which they are employed. They uphold the ethical and professional standards of professional counseling associations, and promote the development of a comprehensive school counseling program.

Throughout the week, you’ll find ASCA and TSCA based information on this blog to share with others while promoting a comprehensive school counseling program that, hopefully, is moving in the direction of state and national guidelines toward a RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) designation from the American School Counseling Association.

Kristine Kilgour, M.Ed., LPSC

School Counselor & Supreme Court Approved Mediator

rfhscounselor@gmail.com