The Essential Role of Middle School Counselors

esearch shows school counseling programs, as outlined by

“The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School

Counseling Programs,” have a positive impact on student

achievement. The development and implementation of these

programs requires leadership from well-trained, highly competent

middle school counselors and collaboration with school administra-

tors, classroom teachers, school staff and community stakeholders.

The Essential Role of

Middle School Counselors

to provide comfort, understanding and

approval.

Identifying students’ academic and

social/emotional needs, as well as pro-

viding any necessary interventions, is

essential in removing barriers to learning

and helping students develop skills and

behaviors critical for academic achieve-

ment. The knowledge, attitudes and

skills students acquire during these years

build the foundation for future success.

MEETING THE NEED

Middle school counselors are educators

uniquely trained in child and adolescent

development, learning strategies, self-

management and social skills.. They

implement a school counseling program

to support students through this impor-

tant developmental period. The school

counseling program provides education,

prevention and intervention activities,

which are integrated into all aspects of

students’ lives. The program teaches stu-

dents the knowledge, attitudes and skills

necessary for academic, career and social/

emotional development.

Middle school counselors do not work in

isolation; rather they are integral to the

total educational program. They provide

a proactive program that engages students

and includes leadership, advocacy and

collaboration with school staff, adminis-

tration and community/family members

in the delivery of programs and activities

to help students achieve success. Middle

school counselors also collaborate with

teachers and parents on early identiﬁca-

tion and intervention of children’s academ-

ic and social/emotional needs, which is

essential in removing barriers to learning

and developing skills and behaviors criti-

cal for academic achievement.

The work of middle school counselors

aligns with the school’s mission to support

all students’ academic achievement as they

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’

DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS

Middle school is an exciting yet chal-

lenging time for students, their parents

and teachers. During this passage

from childhood to adolescence, middle

school students are characterized by

a need to explore a variety of inter-

ests, connecting their learning in the

classroom to its practical application

in life and work; high levels of activity

coupled with frequent fatigue due to

rapid growth; a search for their own

unique identity as they begin turning

more frequently to peers rather than

parents for ideas and afﬁrmation; ex-

treme sensitivity to the comments from

others; and heavy reliance on friends

prepare for the ever-changing world of the

21st century. This alignment is accom-

plished through the design, development,

implementation and evaluation of a school

counseling program. The tools guiding

this work are the ASCA Mindsets & Be-

haviors for Student Success, which address

students’ academic, career and social/

emotional development, and the ASCA

National Model, with its data-informed,

results-based focus. Research demonstrat-

ing the effectiveness of school counseling

programs continues to grow, and there

is evidence of the positive impact these

programs have on students’ academic and

social/emotional development.

IMPLEMENTING A SCHOOL

COUNSELING PROGRAM

Middle school counselors deﬁne and focus

the school counseling program based on

the school’s academic, attendance and

discipline data. Identifying student needs

through this data and consulting with ad-

ministrators guides program development.

Middle school counselors balance their

program by addressing students’ academic,

career and social/emotional development

in addition to balancing delivery methods,

recognizing that students learn in mul-

tiple ways. The end result of this work is

reﬂected in improvement in academic, at-

tendance and discipline outcomes related

to academic development, college and

career readiness and social/emotional

development.

The ASCA National Model provides a

ﬂexible framework middle school coun-

selors use to develop a school counsel-

ing program designed to meet students’

unique needs. The delivery of these

services includes:

Direct student services including:

n instruction – teaching the school

counseling curriculum to students

focused through the lens of selected

student standards from the ASCA

Mindsets & Behaviors for Student

Success.

n appraisal and advisement – assessing

student abilities, interests and

achievement to help them make

decisions about their future.

n counseling – providing professional

assistance and support provided to

a student or small group of students

during times of transition, heightened

stress, critical change or other situations

impeding student success. School

counselors do not provide therapy or

long-term counseling in schools; however,

school counselors are prepared to

recognize and respond to student mental

health needs and to assist students and

families seeking resources.

Indirect student services including:

n consultation – share strategies

supporting student achievement with

parents, teachers, other educators and

community organizations

n collaboration – work with other

educators, parents and the community

to support student achievement

n referrals – support for students and

families to school or community

resources for additional assistance and

information

RESEARCH ON THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHOOL

COUNSELING

Numerous studies demonstrate the value

of school counseling for students in

the domains of academic development,

college and career readiness and social/

emotional development. Results of

research about the effectiveness of

school counseling can be found at

schoolcounselor.org/effectiveness.

THE ASCA NATIONAL MODEL:

A FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOL

COUNSELING

For more information about school

counseling programs based on the

ASCA National Model, go to

schoolcounselor.org/ascanationalmodel.

(Revised, 2019)

Why Middle School Counselors?

Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity.

Middle school counselors have an impact on these years by implementing a school counseling program and collaborating

with school staff, parents and the community to create a safe, respectful learning environment whereby young adolescents

can maximize personal and academic achievement.

Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and social/emotional development.

School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and

values, set informed career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the

world community.

Middle school counselors hold a master’s degree and required state certiﬁcation in school counseling. Maintaining certiﬁca-

tion includes ongoing professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students.

Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.