Thinking and Acting Like a Solution-Focused School Counselor

"This should be a required text for a school counseling degree." -Jill R. Boyd, Counselor and Olweus Bullying Prevention Trainer John Bullen Middle School, Kenosha, WI "The author knows solution-focused counseling inside and out. He describes in excellent detail how to use this technique with multiple problems and multiple ages. The examples are spot on." -Cynthia Knowles, Prevention Specialist Livonia Central School District, NY Learn how to emphasize students' strengths to help them resolve problems! This book helps new and experienced school counselors engage with students using a solution-focused approach that stresses cooperation and highlights positive attributes to facilitate goal achievement. Thinking and Acting Like a Solution-Focused School Counselor provides the background and expertise needed to establish collaborative student relationships, identify student skills and abilities, and reframe problems into attainable goals. Emphasizing practice and feedback, the author includes actual session transcripts to help new and less-experienced counselors apply concepts directly to their own practice. Benefits of this book include: A reflective, meaning-making model as a basis for effective school counseling An introduction to the fundamental principles of solution-focused counseling Clinical illustrations of solution identification and implementation strategies In-depth case studies and guided practice exercises Like the companion books on behavioral, cognitive, and eclectic school counseling, this concise guide offers the knowledge and skills necessary to help troubled students in need of encouragement and hope.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction to Book Series Part I. Solution Focus: A Model Guiding Reflective Practice 1. The School Counselor as Reflective Practitioner 2. The Fundamentals of a Solution-Focused Organizational Framework Part II. Solution-Focused Discourse and the Strategies Employed 3. Highlighting the Possibility and Process of Change 4. Solutions Identification and Implementation 5. Identifying and Implementing Goal Attainment Strategies Part III. From the Eyes of the Solution-Focused Expert 6. Solution-Focused School Counselor: Reflection In and On Practice 7. Practice in Procedural Thinking References Index

About the Author :
Richard D. Parsons, Ph.D. is a Full Professor in the Counselor Education Department at West Chester University.  Dr. Parsons has over 45 years of university teaching in counselor preparation programs. Prior to his University teaching Dr. Parsons spent 9 years as a school counselor in an inner-city high school.

Review :
"This book does make a distinct contribution to the field. This approach is one that school counselors can use. Many may be using a form of this and not even know it." "The author knows solution-focused counseling inside and out. He describes in excellent detail how to use this technique with multiple problems and multiple ages. The examples are spot on." "This should be a required text for a school counseling degree."