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School Counseling Interview Prep

Terms in this set (35)

How would you handle a student reporting abuse by a parent?
I would make sure first and foremost that I was very familiar with the schools protocol when it comes to abuse because it can differ at different schools what needs to be done first. I would consult with my supervisor to see what the proper protocol is so I can make sure I am fulfilling all my legal duties while also following school rules. While the child is in my care, I would console them immediately and tell them how brave they are for telling me. I would stay with the child the entire time. In cases of abuse, someone in the school either myself, or the principal would call DCP&P and the police. I would try to keep the student feeling comforted and safe by letting them play with toys, draw, write, anything that they tend to relax to. All of my decisions would be based on whatever is best for the student at that moment and going forward as well. In my experience, when students were telling me something rather difficult or something that made them upset, I just tried to play a game with them while they talked about the difficult matter, let them write down their feelings if it was hard for them to express, or even draw/color.
How do you intervene with at risk students?
I start by talking to the students and work with them to set personal goals. I often suggest getting involved with sports teams or after school programs. Finding a motivation for them, something they enjoy, a passion, something to give them a sense of belonging. Lunch bunch groups at my internship- helping students make social connections. Help them get into a routine
How a counselor should and would work with a family who does not respond to communication or show much interest in working with the school faculty?
Reach out in various ways, emails, calls, letters home, etc. I would continue to reach out because at least if the parents did not want to be involved, they could never argue that I did not put in all my effort. I would try to create a connection with the parents, make myself relatable to them, talk with my student to find out if there are reasons the parents are not communicating. Maybe there is a language barrier, maybe they do not have access to a computer, finding out these answers could lead me to a more beneficial way of communicating with them.
How do I handle a disruptive child?
I would handle a disruptive child by trying to figure out what the root of the disruptive behavior is. Maybe it has to do with a lack of attention at home, maybe it could be ADHD, or it could be because the student just had a bad day, or forgot homework , or had an argument with a student that day. Usually, there is some reason behind it and I would want to meet with the student to get to the bottom of the behavior. If it was just something that happened one time, I would find out what caused the behavior and help support the student in resolving whatever it was that caused the behavior. If it was reoccurring, I would talk to the parents to find out if they are seeing the behavior at home, talk with the teacher to gain more information, and maybe see if we could come up with a motivating behavior plan for the student that could be informed in school, at home, or both. If that didn't work, we could maybe see if the student could get referred to I&RS
How do you deal with a difficult parent?
1.How would you deal with a difficult parent? (Always let them know you hear them; listen; diffuse; set goal;) I would try my best to keep an open mind in any situation involving a difficult parent. I had to make a few calls to parents that were less than happy with what I was telling them, and I got good advice from my supervisor. She told me that there was times where a parent was so angry with her that no matter what she said, it did not matter. She had to tell a parent before that she was going to hang up the phone for a few minutes until things calmed down and that the parent could call back when they felt comfortable. This was usually a good way to diffuse some of the anger. I would always want to let the parents know that I am on their side and see things how they see it. I think establishing some kind of common ground would help and then once they realize I am an advocate for them as well, we can work towards a common goal.
How would you help a child with anxiety feel better about school?
Help get the parents connected with the teacher before the school year starts, or during the year. Have meeting between the teacher, counselor, and parents. Find out what routines take place within the class every day and see if the parents would be willing to do the same things at home to make the child feel more comfortable.
What would you do if a student said they said they planned on killing themselves?
I would immediately be alarmed and take it as an extremely serious thing. I would keep them in my office, and talk to them. I would try to find out more, have they just thought about it, or do they have a plan? Do they have access to the thing they want to use at home? I would gather information about the situation and immediately call and tell my principal. We would contact the parents but keep the child with me and comfort them, maybe let them play a game, or color in the mean time. I would explain that I am glad they told me and that I am here for them. I would have the parents come pick the child up and explain to them the process for when a child says they want to kill themselves. Whatever the school policy is, the parents would have to follow that. They might have to have their child evaluated before they can come back to school. I would keep doing follow ups with the child and help connect the parents to resources outside of school that may help for an issue as serious as this.
How do you deal with "helicopter" parents?
I would try to establish a good relationship and open conversations with the parents so they could begin to trust me. I know it can be scary when you have to leave a loved one in another care, but I would try to inform the parents of my credentials and experiences that led me here, try to gain their trust and encourage them to reach out to me for any concerns. I would comfort them and run them through the school day routine and let them know that they are important to me and I will let them know whenever something of concern comes up.
What would you do if a student told you he/she brought a weapon to school?
I would ask them questions about it to find out, and even if they are lying about it, it is still something that I would have to take seriously. It is better to be proactive than reactive. I would inform the principal, keep the student in my office and find out where exactly the supposed weapon is. Have someone get the weapon and call the parents to let them know. I would try to give parents resources if they felt this was an issue.
Discuss your experience helping victims of bullying, including online.
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What do you think is the role of the school counselor in preventing school violence?
I believe the school counselor plays an immense role in preventing school violence at all levels. I believe the counselor needs to have a proactive role instead of being reactive and waiting until something bad happens to react. The counselor should promote school safety and should demonstrate a variety of activities, resources, and assemblies to help the students feel that their school climate is safe. I think at a young age, assemblies to reach the whole school are a great idea and can be a great way for the counselor to get creative. I also think having different themes each month, targeting school safety could be a great way to get the counselor in the classroom to teach students about this important issue.
What would you say to irate parent who is upset that their student must attend summer school to continue on to the next grade next year?
I would try to console the parent and let them know that I hear their concerns and I understand how frustrating it can be because they want their child to be able to enjoy their summer. I would also try to point out that their have been several things leading up to the decision for the student to have to attend summer school and then try to focus summer school in a positive way. I would try to point out that a lot of students forget information over the summer, but for their child they would probably have a head start for the next year because they stayed in the school routine and kept using their brain which is great. I would also use the time to try to get the parents on my side and work as a team to come up with a few goals for the child so we can help them avoid summer school next time. If they were still angry about it, I would let them know again that I understand and if there is anything they need from me, I will be there to help them.
If you knew a student was being neglected at home, what would you do?
If I talked to the student many times and felt as though the things they were telling me led me to believe that they were being neglected at home, I would call DCPP. It is a tricky situation though because in my internship experience, there were a few times we heard from students that they were the home alone numerous times while a parent was working and they were only 8 or 9 years old but we had to research because in NJ there is no law that says you can't do that so it was a fine line between wanting to call DCPP and just trying to reach out to the parents about it. I think if I knew the child was, and I made attempts to talk to the parents and nothing was happening, I would call DCPP.
How is your role different from that of a social worker, mental health counselor, or school psychologist?
The role of the counselor is different from a social worker because the social worker goes into the homeThe role of the counselor is different from a mental health counselor because they are trained in therapy, and more long term solutions where we are not. We are focused on more short term and our focus is not solely on mental health.The role of the school counselor is different from a school psychologist because a school psychologist is working with a special education population and spend majority of their time testing students to see if they meet criteria.
How do you manage cultural differences in a school setting?
In the school setting, there are bound to be many cultural differences. I believe in order to manage them, the counselor should be proactive in promoting individual and cultural differences and provide opportunities for diversity to be a school theme. Promoting diversity within a school can help give students higher self esteem, help them connect with others who are similar and different from they are, and promote a good school climate. It is important to educate students on different cultures and help them broaden then world view. Diversity days where students can bring in something from their culture, or learn about different foods, or holidays can be enlightening and help students relate to others who are different from them.
Talk about the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP plan.
A 504 plan is for students who usually need accommodations and an IEP is a legal document that is for students with special education needs.
In what ways do you balance the needs of students, parents, and school administrators?
It can be hard to balance these things but I think trying to come up with a tentative schedule at the begging on each week can help. There has to be set time for each different category of needs, and a counselor must know that most days, everything is not going to get done, but if you try and get what you can done in each area, that is better. I would try to keep an open mind and open communication with everyone and prioritize what is most important to get done at that moment. I have learned that you can try to accomplish so many things in a day, but then a student can walk in and end up needing you for the whole day so it is impossible to accomplish everything.
What factors would you consider before recommending an outside agency referral?
I would consider what the home life is like for the child, how involved their parents are, what kind of resources they have access to based on socio-economic status. I would try to find free resources for families that are in need rather than recommending something that is out of their price range because they would feel very down not being able to use that agency. I would also take into consideration the families thoughts on mental health in general because in some cultures, mental health issues are looked down upon so it might be difficult to persuade families to want to get help.
Tell us about a successful (satisfying) case that you have handled? And, one that was not so successful; what would you have done differently?
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How do school counselors advocate for students differently than other school staff?
How do school counselors advocate for students differently than other school staff?
How do you see yourself fitting in with school counselors who have many years experience as veteran teachers?
I believe I would fit in well with school counselors who were veteran teachers because I would deeply respect what they have done. They might think less of me at first because I was not a teacher, but I think in time they would learn to respect me. I would be very curious about the experiences they have had, and listen to their stories and experiences to help learn.v
A student requests a teacher change because he/she doesn't like them?
I would try to talk to the student about the situation with the teacher, I would see if they were okay if we possibly set up a meeting with the teacher so they could address their concerns. Sometimes, the student feels that a teacher doesn't like them because a teacher is hard on them, but it might just be because the teacher believes they are capable of more. If we could set up a meeting, I would let the student and teacher talk and hopefully work out their differences. I would try that before we looked into switching.
A parent requests you to switch their child's teacher?
I would explain to the parent that we get many requests and we cannot switch overtime someone asks. I would try to set up a meeting between the parent and teacher and see if we could work out the issues first. If it did not work, I would talk to the principal about the issue and see if he wanted to handle that. It would be up to him or her if a switch was necessary.
You have a faculty member's child in your caseload?
My supervisor had a student last year that was the daughter of a teacher in the school and she told me that we had to be careful because the teacher did not really want her to see us. I guess she was worried about her daughter telling us personal information which I get. I think if I had a faculty member's child, I would talk to them about my role in the school and remind them about confidentiality. I would see how they felt about me meeting with the child and what they would feel comfortable with. I would respect their wishes and just let them know that I understand where'd they are coming from.
What if a school faculty member or administrator tries to get you to break confidentiality for a student and you believe it is not necessary?
Try your best to demonstrate your respect for their position of authority,Look for opportunities to interject information about the critical importance of your confidentiality before it becomes an issue. Early on establish a trusting relationship with your teachers and administrators by letting them know you will immediately involve them in information affecting students' safety and well-being.Learn to deflect or address requests for confidential information in such a way that the teacher or administrator feels supported. For example: "What are you observing with this student?" "Is there a particular issue I can help you solve?" "Rather than have you labor through my notes, would it help you if I make a list of the most common problems students bring me?"if you believe the requester of confidential information would support and help a student if the requester had the information, then ask the student if you can share what the requester needs to know. Sometimes we may need to give out information without consulting a student, but this will be the rare exception.If you do give information, then provide only the necessary information and nothing moreThe need-to-know rule requires school counselors reveal sensitive information only when the recipients of the information has a need to know and is in a position to benefit the student if they have the shared information. Without the assurance of confidentiality, many students would not seek our help.
What do I do with families that resist getting much-needed mental health care for their children? At what point does it become a neglect issue?
"legal, ethical and moral responsibility to report suspected cases of child abuse/neglect to proper authorities."School counselors are also expected to provide appropriate services to abused or neglected children. Continuing education and consultation will be helpful for school counselors as they work with students who may be being abused or neglected.AbuseAbuse is the physical, sexual or emotional harm or risk of harm to a child under the age of 18 caused by a parent or other person who acts as a caregiver for the child.NeglectNeglect occurs when a parent or caregiver fails to provide proper supervision for a child or adequate food, clothing, shelter, education or medical care although financially able or assisted to do so.
What do I do when a student who is a minor tells me she thinks she is pregnant? And, if she hasn't told her parents and plans to have an abortion, do I have a legal obligation to share the information with her parents and/or administration?
There are many issues to consider when dealing with this difficult situation. It is most important to know your state laws around this topic (i.e., what is the age of consent, issues around pregnancy decision-making, etc.) as well as your school board policies regarding this issue and community norms. Find out how or if the student has confirmed her pregnancy. Other issues to consider include whether the sex was consensual and the age difference of both parties.It is also important to understand the legal issues on parental rights vs. student's right to confidentiality before preceding any further. Understanding the student's relationship with her parents will help you initiate how to approach having the student tell the parents. It is imperative to monitor your own biases while at the same time helping the student process how to best disclose to the parents if at all possible.
One of my students has recently shared with me that she often cuts herself. Should I contact her parents immediately, or should I meet with her a few times first to establish trust and try to get her to either tell her parents herself or allow me to do so? For me, the issue is not as black and white as I wish it were.
Black and white doesn't always fit for ethical decision-making. In this case, you'll need to assess her cutting behaviors and intentions. If your assessment indicates her intentions are suicidal ideation, of course you should take immediate action and inform her parents and develop a crisis plan. If her actions don't indicate imminent danger, then it is important to understand her cutting conduct and assess the level of her addiction to this behavior. The relationship you have developed with the student may be the open door to guide her to disclosure of this behavior to her parents.
What is the school counselor's role when a student threatens suicide? Should the parents be notified? Should the school administrators be notified?
A school counselors' legal liability ends when school authorities or parents have been notified that a student is at risk and appropriate actionas have been recommended. School counselors should be sure to document their notification. However, a school counselor's ethical obligation to a suicidal student may extend beyond parental notification. If a student isn't helped after notifying parents or guardians, then the student's counseling needs haven't been met.
Situations spill over and may extend into after-school time or the other half of a day for a part-time person. Ethically, we need to see situations through until they are resolved, but how do you balance that with time constraints? Am I ethically obligated to work beyond my normal work hours to deal with issues with the students?
This situation identifies a common challenge for all school personnel. Typically teachers, administrators and school counselors can be found at school long after work hours have ended. Though a school counselor's contractual legal obligations can be quantified, the defined schedule creates a minimum obligation. The legal standard of care, acting reasonably under the circumstances, would also include school counselors working with students in crisis until the crisis is resolved.As the question indicates, school counselors are ethically obligated to see situations through until they are resolved. If school counselors are consistently working well beyond school hours, the school counselor may wish to discuss the situation with an administrator and identify issues such as whether non-counseling activities can be delegated elsewhere or whether hiring additional school counseling personnel is necessary.
I have heard reports of a particular student being cyberbullied. I haven't seen any of the bullying myself as it's done via students' individual Facebook accounts and/or e-mail accounts. Additionally, the student being cyberbullied hasn't come to me for help. What's my role in this instance?
If you heard about a student being bullying in a school setting, you would most likely talk with the student even if the student hadn't approached you. Simply because the bullying happens in cyberspace doesn't mean you wouldn't offer the same type of support. Cyber-antics will indubitably leak into the school setting; therefore every school district should develop a policy regarding cyber-bullying. As a pre-emptive approach, school counselors can educate students and parents about cyber-safety and cyber-bullying. Ethically educators cannot be unresponsive to this potentially deadly form of bullying.
I have set up a Facebook page for the school counseling department for my students. Although I am careful not to friend any of my students on my personal Facebook account, sometimes I see things via this department page that make me worry for my students, such as underage drinking or other risky behaviors. If these activities happen off school grounds, what is my role as the school counselor?
The prime directive of a school counselor is to advocate for our students. You can best address it in this situation by clarifying the boundaries of the school counseling department Facebook page. Put an informed consent statement on the front page. Avoiding the slippery slope of a dual relationship with a student on Facebook is a wise idea; however, cyber education is a proactive way to help students understand the impact and consequences of their posts online. React we must.
What can you do with a person exhibiting bullying behavior to help reduce it?
1. Develop a behavioral contract with the student. Ensure the student has a voice in the outcome and can identify ways he or she can solve the problem and change behaviors;2. Meet with parents to develop a family agreement to ensure the parent and the student understand school rules and expectations;3. Explain the long-term negative consequences of harassment, intimidation, and bullying on all involved;4. Ensure understanding of consequences, if harassment, intimidation, and bullying behavior continues;5. Meet with school counselor, school social worker, or school psychologist to decipher mental health issues (e.g., what is happening and why?);6. Develop a learning plan that includes consequences and skill building;7. Consider wrap-around support services or after-school programs orservices;8. Provide social skill training, such as impulse control, anger management,developing empathy, and problem solving;9. Arrange for an apology, preferably written;10. Require a reflective essay to ensure the student understands the impact ofhis or her actions on others;11. Have the student research and teach a lesson to the class about bullying,empathy, or a similar topic;12. Arrange for restitution (i.e., compensation, reimbursement, amends,repayment), particularly when personal items were damaged or stolen;13. Explore age-appropriate restorative (i.e., healing, curative, recuperative)practices; and14. Schedule a follow-up conference with the student.
What can you do to help with a target or victim of bullying to help them feel more supported?
1. Meet with a trusted staff member to explore the student's feelings about the incident;2. Develop a plan to ensure the student's emotional and physical safety at school;3. Have the student meet with the school counselor or school social worker to ensure he or she does not feel responsible for the bullying behavior;4. Ask students to log behaviors in the future;5. Help the student develop skills and strategies for resisting bullying; and6. Schedule a follow-up conference with the student.Parents, Family, and Community1. Develop a family agreement;2. Refer the family for family counseling; and3. Offer parent education workshops related to bullying and social-emotionallearning.
In what ways have you helped students cope with grief,loss, or mental health issues?
I dealt with helping students deal with grief and loss many times in my internship. There were many students who had the loss of a grand parent during my time there and I found what helped a lot with those students was reading them a story and letting them talk about their loved one. We always read this book called "Goodbye Gran" and then at the end I would ask students to tell me about their lost loved one. We would talk about their favorite memories with them, what they looked like, what they did together, and sometimes I even had them draw a picture, or a write a letter to them. I also dealt with 2 students in particular that had mental health issues and my supervisor and I would talk to the parents regularly to try to connect them with resources outside that would be beneficial to the student. Perform care was one that we told parents about a lot.
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