Running head: SCHOOL COUNSELOR BELIEF STATEMENT

School Counselor Belief Statement

Shanell J. Meredith
Seattle University
Comprehensive Counseling
February, 5 2013

SCHOOL COUSNELOR BELIEF STATEMENT

School Counselor Belief Statement

School counselors hold one of the most significant and influential roles in a school. My
belief statement will be an indication of what type of unique influence my presence will bring to
a school. In this belief statement I will briefly discuss how cognitive behavioral theory will be
relevant in grades K-12, my views regarding the practice of school counseling and college
readiness, how the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Ethical Standards will
guide my practice of school counseling, the importance of bullying prevention for students that
identify as LGBTQ and finally how I plan to incorporate social justice into my philosophy of
school counseling.
Theoretical Orientation
My current theoretical orientation is cognitive behavioral theory (CBT). CBT assumes a
students belief system and cognitive processing about his/her behavior is at the root of most
problematic behaviors (Dahir & Stone, 2012 p. 46). A school counselors role while practicing
under CBT is to use a variety of strategies to teach students to identify, evaluate and change
those faulty cognitive processes which translate to misbehavior. I believe it is vital to provide
students with the tools to recognize and modify their maladaptive thoughts and behaviors
independently and the CBT process does just that. CBT techniques and strategies are not new to
schools, and due to the adaptability and short-term nature of this type of counseling I believe it is
a great fit for students, teachers and parents alike.
Practice of School Counseling
The role of a school counselor is dynamic and multifaceted. I believe a competent and
effective school counselor is responsible for creating a comprehensive school counseling
program, based on the ASCA National Model, in which students developmental needs are met.

SCHOOL COUSNELOR BELIEF STATEMENT

Within that comprehensive program a counselor should be involved in ensuring each students
educational, career, social and cultural needs are being met. Evaluating needs and making
program decisions should be data driven to ensure the distribution of time and money is
advantageous to student achievement and needs. Preparing students for college and future
careers is an important piece of a school counselors responsibility. An effective school counselor
can promote college readiness by providing: knowledge of how students academic careers will
affect their future college and job aspirations, access to aptitude tests, information about college
choices and visits to college and post-secondary programs, assistance in SAT preparation and in
the college application process.
ASCA Ethical Standards
The American School Counselor Associations (2012) Ethical Standards will be the
guiding set of principles I will refer back to when I have a moral dilemma, face decisions lacking
an obvious solution and for how I choose to conduct myself on a daily basis. Due to the
multidimensional role I will have as a school counselor, I will not only have a responsibility to
respect and create a safe and equitable environment my students; I will simultaneously need to
be responsible for: myself, parents and guardians, colleagues and associates, the school, the
community and the families of students while maintaining professional counseling standards.
Accountability for so many overlapping groups will be a challenge and the ASCAs Ethical
Standards will provide me with ethical decision-making models that will
help assure me that I am adhering to the principles of the school counseling profession by taking
the appropriate steps during the decision making process (ASCA, 2012).

SCHOOL COUSNELOR BELIEF STATEMENT

Special Interest
LBGTQ bullying prevention is an area of special interest to me. I believe it is imperative
for our schools to be a safe place for all students to thrive regardless of their sexual orientation or
gender identity/expression. The lack of acceptance and understanding of the general student
population, and some school personnel, attributes to the harassment and bullying of LGBTQ
students. I hope to teach students to embrace and respect differences in each other by
implementing one of the inclusive curriculums designed to address existing bullying and to
prevent future mistreatment of LGBTQ population. Students feelings of emotional and physical
safety significantly impact emotional well-being, so working towards building a school climate
in which individual differences are valued is fiercely important to me.
Social Justice
The U.S. Census Bureau (2012) tells us that the demographics of our country are quickly
changing; we are becoming a more ethnically and culturally diverse population. To no surprise
these changes in diversity are also occurring in our schools. Schools today are filled with
students who speak an assortment of languages, hold different beliefs and come from varying
family structures and cultural backgrounds. I will aim to create an equitable environment for
students by removing barriers that hinder opportunities for educational success. I will accomplish
this by educating students and school personnel about multicultural issues and by getting
involved to assure students and their families have access to information and support as needed.
As a future school counselor, am responsible for ensuring students are given equal opportunities
and treatment regardless of their individual differences. I will make certain all students,
especially those who have historically been marginalized, are not overlooked and will strive to be

SCHOOL COUSNELOR BELIEF STATEMENT

seen as an ally and an advocate for students in their quest towards the academic and social
achievement they deserve.
Conclusion
School counselors hold one of the most powerful roles in a school. My belief statement
has been an indication of what type of unique influence my presence will bring to a counseling
program. My past experiences and accumulation of knowledge have helped shape what I believe
to be important and true for school counselors. Since my education specific to school counseling
has just begun, I am confident that as my depth of knowledge grows, my beliefs will also evolve.

SCHOOL COUSNELOR BELIEF STATEMENT

References
American School Counselor Association (2012). The ASCA National Model: A framework for
School Counseling Programs, Third Edition. Alexandria, VA: Author.
Dahir, C. A., & Stone, C. B. (2012). The transformed school counselor. Belmont, CA:
Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2012). U.S. Census Bureau Projections Show a Slower Growing, Older,
More Diverse Nation a Half Century from Now (CB12-243). Washington, DC: Retrieved
February 28, 2013 from the World Wide Web:
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-243.html.