Embedded Files
Throughout the program students were required to complete various assignments and projects to demonstrate counseling practices in supporting students at all grade levels. Assignments range from creating a Counseling Curriculum for a fictitious high school to guidance lessons for elementary school students.
500 Level Courses
500 Level Courses
EDUC 500 The Counseling Process
EDPT 502 Learning and Individual Differences
EDCO 503 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
EDCO 505 Counseling & Collaboration in the School Setting
EDUC 508 Creating Communities of Interest
EDUC 511 Introduction to School Counseling
EDUC 520 Counseling of College & Career Readiness I
EDCO 541 Theories of Counseling
EDHP 552 Politics of Difference
EDUC 570 Research Methods
600 Level Courses
600 Level Courses
EDUC 600 Counseling for College & Career Readiness II
EDUC 608 School Climate Connectedness & Classroom Management
EDUC 612 Human Development Theory in School Counseling
EDUC 637 Group Counseling
EDUC 638 Cross-Cultural Counseling
Highlights and Examples
Highlights and Examples
Throughout all courses, I had to the opportunity to create and utilize tools and resources for multiple communities such as LGBTQ+, First Generation students, students with 504 plans and IEPs, students covered under the McKenny Vento Act and and students from minoritized groups. As I am also seeking a Drama Therapy Credential, it was important to incorporate theories and exercises in counseling sessions that speak to the creative heart and mind of students.
The Counseling Process
This course helped me to engage in therapeutic processes, strengthen my micro skills and connecting with others through role-plays. The example is one such case.
Legal & Ethical Issues in Counseling
This course gave me an understanding of my scope of practice and how to address ethics and conduct as it relates to the legal issues we could face as counselors.
Learning and Individual Differences
This course focused on the impact of motivation and learning in the school environment. We also went in depth on the theoretical foundations of learning and motivation, specifically reviewing how to emphasis common challenges in high need school settings.
Counseling & Collaboration in the School Setting
With focus on consulting and collaborating with other professionals, I was able to explore my role outside of the the school itself and how I would create a program to implement in a school setting to address the culture and specific needs of the students.
Creating Communities of Interest
This course introduced me to the framework of well-being, not just mental well-being but socially, personally and collectively and how it relates to learning and working as a professional in counseling. This was a difficult course for as a I had to make some adjustments to my beliefs and ideas about well-being.
Introduction to School Counseling
Although the title says a lot, this course really went to the heart of school counselors as creatives: Not only do we create opportunities for students but we learned how to plan, manage and assess counseling programs for comprehensiveness and driven by data. This included addressing equity in the K-12 school system to increase access to education for all students that is high in quality.
Counseling of College & Career Readiness I
As a first gen student myself, this was eye opening. I learned in this course how our foundation and the systems that we grow up with impacts our college and career choices. Specifically, how college and career is introduced to us and the various learning environments students find themselves in, whether traditional or non-traditional.
Counseling for College & Career Readiness II
Part two of College and Career readiness, this course further explored how to use school demographics and info to create a comprehensive college and career program for high school students. This was in fact one of my favorite assignments. There are so many ways to engage students that we don't even think about.
Politics of Difference
The “politics of difference” - this class really expanded my mind even more when I looked how institutions of higher education perform when supporting “our differences” - whatever they may be. I loved how the idea of power is so important when discussing higher education because it was something I never personally considered but was keenly aware of being from a minoritized group. It made me reflect and consider other areas of my life and in my everyday interactions where systems of power are at play - such as: the idea of professionalism.
Research Methods & Data Analysis
This course introduced research and how to use analysis, credible research studies and practices to enhance my counseling practice. My favorite part of this class was exploring how to use Drama Therapy in schools as a counseling mechanism.
Theories of Counseling
This course really introduced me to the theoretical side of counseling and psychotherapy. I really got a chance to see how theories came to be and the approaches taken. One thing that really gave me pause is the missing cultural aspect of psychotherapy from the pioneers. This made me reflect on how I wanted to approach counseling and which theory more fit my counseling style.
School Connectedness, Climate & Classroom Management
This was a very interesting course in that I was introduced to the ways by which we “implement comprehensive school climate initiatives.”I think it was very helpful in light of the pandemic where counselors were really tested to adjust to this new culture of virtual learning and what that meant for students, individual counseling, group counseling etc. Discipline and crisis management took on another meaning when I looked back at this class.
Human Development Theory in School Counseling
This course really engaged us to determine how we as school counselors could facilitate well-being in human development. I never looked at human development as a vehicle by which to facilitate well-being. But going through this course caused me to look deeper at situations and get background information instead of relying on presenting issues or surface level concerns.
Group Counseling
This group taught me the “practical and theoretical concerts” of group dynamics and the different stages of groups that are necessary for their success. We also learned about how individuals communicate within these groups as well as group facilitation.
Cross-Cultural Counseling
When we think about cross-cultural counseling, I know for me personally, I never considered the socio-economic or language factors of different populations. But this course forces us to address those areas in terms of cross-cultural counseling. How did a person grow up, what language do they speak? African American Vernacular English or spanglish? Those things, as well as many other intersectionality's, are important when considering the cultural background of a student.
EDCO 574 - Practicum
EDCO 574 - Practicum
This course is our introduction to Practicum/fieldwork as school counselors. In this course we were provided the opportunity to work as school counselors at a school site where we could learn hands-on with supervision from another school counselor. Although my practicum experience occurred during the first shutdown - I was able to gain valuable experience/skills in counseling students virtually an coming up with ways to help students virtually via classroom guidance lesson via Google Meets or even group counseling.
Fieldwork I & II
Fieldwork I & II
This course occurs over a two semester period where we continue with our hands-on experience as school counselors on site. I had the opportunity to create needs assessments, groups, flyers, virtual meeting space rules, etc. Fieldwork taught me how to be flexible and made me realize that my skillset can be of better use in another field.
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