The School Counselor as Consultant: Expanding Impact from Intervention to Prevention

Written to help school counselors address the ever-changing needs of their clients and the growing demands of the profession, The School Counselor as Consultant: Expanding Impact from Intervention to Prevention provides readers with a service delivery model that emphasizes remediation and prevention. The model empowers school counselors to intervene when necessary, identify key opportunities to promote growth, and successfully deter future challenges and incidents.

Section I addresses the expanding role of school counselors, fresh perspectives for approaching this important work, and an introduction to the concept of prevention. In Section II, readers learn key strategies for effective consultation, are introduced to a multidimensional, integrated model of consulting, explore the concept of counselors as agents for change, and learn tips for working with resistance and maintaining an ethical practice. Section III focuses on moving beyond intervention to prevention and provides actionable instruction for varying levels of prevention. The final section shares case studies that demonstrate multiple levels of intervention and prevention and invites students to reflect upon and discuss the topics addressed throughout the text.

The School Counselor as Consultant is an enlightening and practical text that is ideal for both pre-service and practicing school counselors.

Karen Dickinson is an associate professor of counselor education at West Chester University. She is a certified school counselor with more than 20 years of experience serving as a counselor and elementary and special education instructor. Dr. Dickinson earned her master’s degree in elementary school counseling from West Chester University and her doctorate degree in individual and family studies from the University of Delaware.

Richard Parsons is a professor of counselor education at West Chester University and has over 37 years of experience in teaching counselor preparation programs. He has had a private clinical practice for over 40 years, working with those experiencing debilitating anxiety, depression, and other challenges to emotional wellbeing. Dr. Parsons also serves as a consultant to educational and mental health institutions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. He has authored or co-authored over 90 books, book chapters, and professional articles. Dr. Parsons earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Temple University.