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Respond to all 4 students discussion 100 word minimum
Due Sunday JULY 9, 2023
Must Read:
**Please write response as a direct response to the classmate. Please don’t write the response addressing the student as a third person. Correct way to response……
***Example: Hi James I agree with you and so on…..
****Example: Please DO NOT say According to Ashley. Because we’re supposed to respond directly to the student.
*****PLEASE RESPOND IN DEPTH
Week 2 – Discussion: Boundaries
Response 1- Jamie
Which one specific ethics code, addressing boundaries, do you feel is important to be included in the standards? Why?
In ACA standards for school counselors section A. 15. Technical and Digital Citizenship it states, “Understand challenges with confidentiality when using email and establish protocols and boundaries for responding to emails “(ACA.org, 2022). This is an important code on boundaries because it talks about confidentiality with students, but also the importance of boundaries. Now a days with technology students have easier access to students through email or messaging through google classroom sites. There have been many stories of teacher/student relationships that blur these boundaries and waver on an unethical line. It is important as a counselor when reaching out to students through emails and responding that we keep it very professional, share any responses of student’s that may be inappropriate to admin, and keep student confidentiality unless the message shows harm and serious problems that need to be mandated and reported. Social media is another great example of setting boundaries. Social media allows counselors to humanize the profession, educate others about mental health and even connect people with the resources and services they need. According to counseling today, “counselors have an opportunity to use social media platforms to offset misinformation and educate others on mental health” (Counseling Today, 2022). School counseling is a specialization in which a gap is bridged between students and their families to help facilitate student achievement, improve behaviors and attendance, and help students with social and emotional regulations. Through tools such as social media counselors can help advocate for student’s and keep parents informed. Social media needs to be supported by multiple people such as counselor, admin, and a teacher to have more eyes on what’s being posted, how people and responding, and when comments or questions come in, giving appropriate responses, boundaries for successful use without crossing lines, forming inappropriate relationships and have multiple eyes on content and problems that could arise. Having support systems is important.
References:
ACA.org, 2022. ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. ASCA Ethical Standards for School CounselorsLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.
Counseling Today. (2022). The rise of counselors on social media. https://ct.counseling.org/2022/03/the-rise-of-counselors-on-social-media/#:~:text=Social%20media%20allows%20counselors%20to,should%20create%20social%20media%20accounts
RESPONSE 2- CLAUDIA
Which one specific ethics code, addressing boundaries, do you feel is important to be included in the standards? Why?
In ASCA’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors (American School Counselor Association, 2022), one specific ethics code that stands out as important and that should be included in the standards is code B.2: Responsibilities to the School. This ethics code covers the various responsibilities of school counselors in their roles as leaders and facilitators within, and outside, the school environment. Various points from the code will be examined below:
School counselors develop and maintain professional relationships and systems of communication with faculty, staff and administrators to support students (American School Counselor Association, 2022). This point highlights the specific responsibility that school counselors have in collaborating with stakeholders to produce best outcomes for social/emotional, academic and career readiness of students. Through collaborative relationships with stakeholders in the school community, school counselors can gain a better understanding of the needs and challenges of students, align their counseling efforts appropriately, and provide data-driven lessons and support.
Another important aspect of B.2 is through advocacy. School counselors exercise leadership to create systemic change to create a safe and supportive environment and equitable outcomes for all students (American School Counselor Association, 2022).
Counselors advocate for counseling programs that are free of non-school-counseling assignments, as has been identified by “The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs.” The ASCA framework ensures that school counselors are practicing in their professional role of providing support services to students in the areas of academic, career, and social/emotional wellness.
School counselors maintain confidentiality and “inform appropriate officials, in accordance with federal and state law and school and district policy, of conditions that may be potentially disruptive or damaging to the school’s mission, personnel and property, while honoring the confidentiality between students and school counselors to the extent possible (American School Counselor Association, 2022) .
While all the codes are essential to an effective counseling program, and serve to guide counselors in their practice, I believe that code B.2 sufficiently covers all the leadership, advocacy and confidentiality aspects of a school counselor. B.2 addresses the importance of developing professional relationships, delivering comprehensive programs, advocating for equitable policies, creating a safe and inclusive school environment, and adherence to ethical research practices.
References
American School Counselor Association. (2022). ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors – American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Www.schoolcounselor.org. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Ethical-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselors-(1)
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Week 2 – Discussion: Hope & Altruism
RESPONSE 4- ASHLEY
Were interrelationships within school organization and the community reviewed?
Yalom shares the interrelationship between group therapy and healing for those struggling with alcohol abuse as it drastically influences change in them. People who grapple with this matter often feel overwhelmed, isolated, and lack control, and the group setting helps individuals overcome these emotions, among many others. Point number 8 reiterates the importance of the interrelationship between combatting substance abuse and interacting with others by stating, “Interpersonal learning teaches clients how to develop supportive interpersonal relationships. (2015)” Working with others with the same struggle allows individuals to support one another by processing the issue together and finding solace in knowing they are not alone and can work towards their goals together. As they witness change occurring in others, their hope is restored, encouraging them for their healing. Although these articles focus on therapy, this same concept can be applied to the school setting, allowing students to engage in community and heal substance abuse through group counseling.
Identify how the various stakeholders engaged in school, family, and community partnerships.
Yalom shares how the group helps participants engage in school, family, and community partnerships. For instance, the group helps individuals improve their ability to relate to one another and gain confidence through healthy relationships. This interaction will translate to students’ relationships at school, family, and community. Depending on their family dynamic, this may be their first introduction to healthy relationships, which may change their life trajectory by allowing them to feel seen, heard, understood, and accepted. Once students embrace the group, they may no longer desire to isolate themselves and may be encouraged to develop a healthier lifestyle.
Yalom also mentions how the group is cathartic and can lead participants to release pent-up emotions due to the supportive environment, which will also help them as they interact within their school community. In the schools, the counselors can ask students to participate in a mindfulness activity, improving students’ attention to their tasks and growing compassion for themselves and others. One example at my site is Mindful Monday, where the counselor records herself leading students through a mindfulness activity, which teachers project for all nine hundred students, encouraging them to practice deep breathing in times of stress.
Reference
Good Therapy (2015, July 8). Irvin Yalom. Retrieved July 3, 2023, from https://www.goodtherapy.org/Links to an external site.
Next Step Therapy (1, January 1). Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors. Retrieved July 3, 2023, from https://nextsteptherapy.ie/
RESPONSE 4- Stacey
Were interrelationships within the school organization and the community reviewed? If so, how?
In this week’s readings, I gained new knowledge on Yrvin Yalom’s eleven therapeutic factors in group therapy. The first factor discussed is an installation of Hope, which emerges when clients feel hope due to others struggling through similar struggles in their life and seeing change happening amongst them. The interrelationships that I gathered through readings are the members as a community and as individuals, the families supporting the members in this group, the facilitator, and the therapist/counselor. All of these interrelationships are important and should be valued because it takes all of them to make this therapy group work. The group allows members to feel that they are not alone and makes them feel that their struggle is not unique and they feel supported because of it. This gives people the confidence to make changes in their life. As counselors, I believe it is important that when we form groups we make sure everyone feels that they belong, are supported, remove any feeling of solitude, and make sure that everyone feels cared for. As a facilitator of a group, having these interrelationships with everyone is key and it is very important to have that engagement with all members of the group, not singling people out, and acknowledging that they made it to the group is so essential.
Identify how the various stakeholders engaged in school, family, and community partnerships.
In group therapy, there are various stakeholders including the facilitator, the members, and even the staff helping if any. In a school setting, there are also many stakeholders such as the students, the parents, the admin team, the counselors, and other members who work in the school system. Group therapy allows clients to help one another by providing feedback and this helps as it allows for the community to share experiences and be celebrated or encouraged, this is also possible within a school setting. The stakeholders in a group setting feel valued by sharing their success and this is when self-esteem is emerged. Another way that counselors can help in this group setting is by being sensitive to the members, and by being self-aware of their own behavior because members start to imitate behavior and they are also watching for other members’ behaviors who are being successful with their struggles. As future counselors, we must always remember that we are leaders in our school community and we are always being watched and imitated. We also are going to be leaders of groups we form and we need to support our members and encourage and be able to always celebrate wins no matter how small or how big they may be.
