School Counselors as
Consultants
The Transformed School Counselor
Chapter 12

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The Effectiveness of
Consultation in the Schools


Consultation is a problem-solving
approach with the adults in a student’s life
who are in a position to affect positive
change.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The Effectiveness of Consultation
in the Schools Continued
Triadic-Dependent Consultation Model



Views the consultant as an expert in child behavior
The goal of the consultant as expert is to increase the
skills, knowledge, and objectivity of the consultee so that

the consultee can more successfully help the consultant
implement an intervention plan.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The Effectiveness of Consultation
in the Schools Continued
Collaborative Consultation Model






Maintains an equal partnership among all parties involved
and includes shared responsibility for outcomes and
accountability
Attention is placed on relationship building,
communication skills, problem-solving approaches and
accountability for results.
This model is far more effective than the expert model
because people are more likely to implement change when
they are actively involved in creating solutions.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.



The Effectiveness of Consultation
in the Schools Continued
Consultation as a Powerful Tool


Allows counselors to have a far-reaching, lasting
impact on the school’s internal and external
community members



Extends the counselor’s reach to more students by working
with the adults in a student’s life who can make a major
impact on student’s academic, career, and social/emotional
life.



Works with parents, teachers, and administrators to benefit
a student or remove a barrier that is impeding progress for
a student

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The Effectiveness of Consultation
in the Schools Continued
Consultation as an Effective Use of Time



The rule of parsimony refers to an efficient use of time
such that school counselors spend their time where they
can impact the most students.



In a successful consultation, knowledge gained can be
transferred to new situations, ideas germinate into plans
that can benefit many more students, and professional skill
is enhanced.



Direct service delivery, such as individual counseling,
reaches one student at a time, while consultation indirectly
impacts many students by working with the adults in
students’ lives.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The Effectiveness of Consultation
in the Schools Continued


The Consultant as Facilitator
Consultation should focus on an equal partnership,
but on many occasions the school counselor will

have greater knowledge and be capable of a larger
contribution to problem-solving. Nevertheless…



In an equal partnership, the counselor should focus
on the facilitative role rather than the expert role.



In an equal partnership, equal problem-solving
effort is expected and helping others feel
empowered is one of the goals.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The Consultant as Facilitator Continued
Internal consultees
may include:
 Classroom teacher
 Administrator
 Media specialist
 Special education
teacher
 School nurse


External consultees

may include:
 Parents
 Agency personnel
 Mentor
 Tutor
 Community health
care provider


©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Consulting With Teachers
Teachers as consultees fall into five categories:
1. The confident teacher –has a history of being successful with

students and reaches out to the school counselor to serve as a
resource for agencies, tutors, mentors, and as a sounding board
2. The questioning teacher – skilled teacher who seeks a new voice and
new strategies for effecting change in students
3. The dependent teacher – often less skilled at behavior and classroom
management and may be struggling or overwhelmed
4. The absentee teacher – never calls on the school counselor because
of a belief that he or she should be able to solve problems
independently or because of refusal to admit that any problems
exist
5. The dominating teacher – demands your undivided attention, may try
to monopolize your time, and may deplete your energy
©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of

copyright laws.


PREPARE for Effective
Consultation with Teachers
PREPARE is an acronym for Philosophy,
Relationships, Equity of power, Professional
development, Accessibility, Resources, and
Evaluate.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PREPARE for Effective
Consultation with Teachers


Philosophy



School counselors establish a philosophy of
consultation that matches the mission of their
schools.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.



PREPARE for Effective
Consultation with Teachers


Relationships – guiding principles for building
relationships with teachers



Appreciate and understand how demanding and difficult it
is to be a teacher.



Follow through on commitments made to consultees.



Recognize the harm to your role if you are viewed as
untrustworthy.



Provide a welcoming atmosphere and demeanor.



Demonstrate genuine respect and a belief that the consultee
can effect change.


©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PREPARE for Effective
Consultation with Teachers


Equity of Power – a non-hierarchical relationship
between the consultant and the consultee



Help your consultee feel empowered to be an
equal partner or dominant force in solving
problems.



Treat consultee with patience.



Avoid a condescending tone or behavior.



Solicit consultee’s suggestions.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of

copyright laws.


PREPARE for Effective
Consultation with Teachers


Professional Development – enhances your own
skills and supports the growth and development of
faculty members and administrators



Professional organizations, literature, conferences,
and in-services will contribute to professional
development.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PREPARE for Effective
Consultation with Teachers


Accessibility



Be visible in the halls, cafeteria, and classrooms.




Send a note to teachers and other consultees that
tells them you are there to help.



Post your daily, weekly, and monthly schedule on
your door.



Let it be known that you are an advocate for
students, parents, and teachers.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PREPARE for Effective
Consultation with Teachers


Resources – brokering and managing resources
increases the effectiveness of the consultation role



A consultant who brokers resources brings in

many agencies, business partners, and parents to
deliver strategies.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PREPARE for Effective
Consultation with Teachers


Evaluate

 Evaluate

your effectiveness as a consultant
by establishing baseline data with which to
compare results.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Consulting With Parents


Outcomes of educational consultation are
likely to be more successful when there is
an effective parent-educator partnership.




Student performance is enhanced by a
strong relationship between parents and the
school.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PARTNER for Effective
Conferences With Parents
PARTNER is an acronym for a seven-step
approach to facilitating success of
conferences with parents:
Planning for success, Acknowledging
parents as partners, Rapport building,
Teaming to identify the problem,
Negotiating a plan of action, Ending
effectively, Regrouping
©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PARTNER for Effective
Conferences With Parents
Planning for Success
 Think positive thoughts about the student.
 Keep the number of people in the room to a
minimum.

 Dress professionally, but in a way that helps
parents identify with you.


©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PARTNER for Effective
Conferences With Parents
Acknowledging Parents as Partners
 Convey confidence in having the parent as a
partner.
 Understand that parents are doing the best
they can.
 Recognize the parents’ rights to be the
guiding voice in their children’s lives.


©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PARTNER for Effective
Conferences With Parents
Rapport Building
 Begin with positives remarks about the
student.
 Use facilitation skills to defuse anger.
 Avoid absolute statements.



©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PARTNER for Effective
Conferences With Parents
Teaming to Identify the Problem
 Encourage parents to talk about how they see
their child’s progress in school.
 Collaborate with the parent to recognize and
acknowledge the shared goal of removing
barriers.
 Avoid fixed ideas about how the problem should
be solved.


©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PARTNER for Effective
Conferences With Parents
Negotiating a Plan of Action
 Search for congruence with the parents in
defining the problem to be addressed.
 Develop a plan of action in measurable
goals, not in the form of problems.



©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


PARTNER for Effective
Conferences With Parents
Ending Effectively
 Summarize the conference and check for
understanding.
 Process what was said in the conference.
 End with affirmations about the potential
for making a difference.


©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.