NCSC flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

ASCA National Model components

Define, Manage, Deliver, Assess. These four components structure a comprehensive school counseling program around student standards, program planning, service delivery, and outcome evaluation.

Recommended counselor use-of-time

At least 80% of time in direct and indirect services to students; no more than 20% in program planning, fair-share responsibilities, and non-counseling duties.

Direct vs. indirect services

Direct services are face-to-face with students (counseling, lessons, appraisal). Indirect services are on students' behalf (referrals, consultation, collaboration) without direct student contact.

ASCA recommended counselor ratio

1 counselor to 250 students. National averages have typically ranged near 1:385-1:408, so many schools exceed the recommendation substantially.

FERPA eligible student

A student who has reached age 18 or attends a postsecondary institution. Rights transfer from parents to the student at that point under FERPA.

Inappropriate non-counseling duties

Tasks such as test coordination, substitute teaching, discipline, lunch or bus duty, and clerical record-keeping. These fall outside the school counselor's appropriate role.

STEPS ethical decision model

Solutions to Ethical Problems in Schools: identify the problem, examine standards and laws, consider developmental level and setting, consult, and evaluate the selected action.

Confidentiality limits to disclose

Danger to self or others, suspected abuse or neglect, and court orders. Counselors disclose these limits at the outset of the counseling relationship.

Miracle question

A solution-focused technique asking the student to describe how life would differ if the problem were solved overnight, highlighting goals and preferred outcomes.

Scaling questions

A solution-focused technique asking students to rate progress or confidence on a numeric scale, then identify small next steps toward a higher number.

Rogerian core conditions

Unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. Person-centered counselors use reflection and paraphrasing to create a growth-promoting relationship.

WDEP reality therapy sequence

Wants, Doing, Evaluation, Planning. Glasser's choice theory approach examines basic needs and current behavior before building an action plan.

OARS motivational interviewing skills

Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries. These microskills help explore and resolve ambivalence about changing behavior.

Group stages

Forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. School counseling groups are usually short-term, running roughly six to twelve sessions.

Typical school counseling group size

Commonly six to eight members. Screening, informed consent, and limits of confidentiality within the group are addressed before the first session.

Suicide risk vs. protective factors

Risk factors include prior attempts, depression, isolation, and access to means. Protective factors include connectedness, coping skills, and reasons for living.

Crisis triage sequence

Assess immediate risk, ensure supervision, notify administration and parents per policy, refer to community resources, and document the response.

Behavioral rehearsal

A cognitive-behavioral technique in which the student practices a target skill, such as refusal or asking for help, before using it in real situations.

Holland RIASEC types

Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional. Congruence between personality type and work environment predicts job satisfaction.

Super's life-span stages

Growth, exploration, establishment, maintenance, and decline. The exploration stage spans roughly ages 15 to 24 and includes career trial and decision-making.

Gottfredson circumscription and compromise

Children narrow career options by gender, then prestige, then interest field. Later, people compromise aspirations to accommodate reality constraints.

Krumboltz social learning theory

Career decisions are shaped by learning experiences, self-observation generalizations, task approach skills, and unplanned happenstance events.

FAFSA purpose

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid determines eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study; it is also used by many states and institutions.

Subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans

Subsidized loans have interest paid by the government during qualifying periods; unsubsidized loans accrue interest from disbursement. Both require repayment.

Counselor role in IEP meetings

Contribute social-emotional and transition input as a team member. The team determines eligibility and services; counselors do not unilaterally change placement.

Career interest inventory use

Interest inventories such as the O*NET Interest Profiler generate hypotheses for exploration. Results are starting points, not prescriptions for a career choice.

Triadic consultation model

Caplan's model: a consultant works with a consultee, who then applies the guidance to a client. In schools, the consultee is often a teacher.

Consultation vs. collaboration

Consultation is typically a triadic advisory relationship; collaboration is a mutual, egalitarian partnership with shared responsibility for outcomes.

MTSS tiers

Tier 1 universal supports for all students, Tier 2 targeted small-group supports, and Tier 3 intensive individualized supports. Counselors align services across tiers.

Process, perception, outcome data

Process data describe activities (students served); perception data capture attitudes or knowledge (pre/post surveys); outcome data show results (attendance, discipline, achievement).

School counseling advisory council

A group of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members who review program goals and results, meeting at least twice yearly per ASCA guidance.

Sole-possession notes

Counseling notes kept in the counselor's sole possession and not shared are generally not education records under FERPA, though state law and district policy govern.