The Preparation of Professional School Counselors for Group Work

Abstract

An online survey about the group work training experiences of school counselors was completed by 802 members of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA). Most respondents had one course in group work; a minority had the opportunity to observe or co-lead groups with children and/or adolescents as part of their training. Qualitative analysis of comment data provided more depth and insight about school counselors' training in group work. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• children
• group training
• online survey
• school counselor

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sam Steen

Sam Steen is an Assistant Professor of School Counseling in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at The George Washington University.

Sheri Bauman

Sheri Bauman is an Associate Professor of School Counseling in the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

Julie Smith

Julie Smith is a doctoral candidate in the Center for Higher Education Research, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.