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The 21st Century School Counselor

By Kristina Donovan, Supervisor of School Counseling K-12, Princeton
Public Schools

“It is with a heavy heart 10% of 12-17-year-old adolescents however, the understanding of

that I wanted to alert reported a significant depressive educational services and social
episode and even suicidal ideation
emotional counseling has been
you to the fact that we within 12 months of being surveyed difficult to intertwine (Cooper, Hough,
had a confirmed death (U.S. Department of Health and & Loynd, 2005). Guidance counseling
versus school counseling may be
Human Services, 2015). There is a
of a student yesterday unique opportunity for school districts challenging for seasoned educators
to help these students. There are to understand. As student and parent
evening...” The weight of the trained school based mental health needs have changed, so has the role
words lay heavy on the paper. I professionals in most New Jersey of the school counselor. Originally
typed the words, deleted them, and schools today. These professionals guidance counselors were employed
typed them again. These are not just need to be better understood. to support the vocational needs of the
words that any administrator wants students in the building. Nowadays,
to send out to colleagues, and yet it Guidance Counseling contemporary school counseling is
seems that we are sending more and The term immediately makes me holistic in nature. The contemporary
more of these notifications. Despair shudder: Guidance Counseling. school counselor is working with
hidden by anger turns into blame and Counseling in schools is not new, a counseling focus to support a
fault; but the reality is in New Jersey

Educational Viewpoints -94- Spring 2018