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Bullying is a major issue facing school systems today. It is important to explore the extent to which school counselors feel confident in providing interventions to address bullying. This research study is designed to fill a gap in the current school counseling literature regarding our understanding of school counselors' self-efficacy to address bullying in elementary schools. The following research questions will guide the study: 1. What is the elementary school counselor's perceived self-efficacy for providing bullying interventions in an elementary school setting, as measured by the Counselor Self-Efficacy and Bullying Interventions Scale (CSBI)? 2. What is the elementary school counselor's perceived self-efficacy regarding his or her counseling skills as measured by the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE)? 3. To what extent are (a) years of experience in the field, (b) years of training, (c) bullying-intervention training in graduate school, and (d) participation in professional development activities and/or in-services predictive of a counselor's self-efficacy for providing bullying interventions? Responses from 126 elementary school counselors employed at a large suburban school district in the Mid-Atlantic region were used to explore overall counselor self-efficacy and counselor self-efficacy related to bullying interventions. The Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE; Larson et al., 1992), and Counselor Self-Efficacy and Bullying Interventions Scale(CSBI adapted from King et al., 1999) were the instruments used to answer the research questions. Participants reported a high (M =185) overall self-efficacy as well as a high (M =71.2) self-efficacy for providing bullying interventions. However, only one variable, years of experience, was found to significantly predict efficacy expectations (B = 0.25, p <.01) and outcome values (B = 0.21, p <.05); none of the variables were found to significantly predict outcome expectations (r-squared=0.06, n.s). / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of elementary school counselors working with students adopted transracially (SATr) and their families. Previously, the voices of elementary school counselors have been omitted from the limited scope of professional literature available related to school counseling practice with SATr. Using a phenomenological method, research questions were developed to capture the perceptions, needs, and practices of elementary school counselors working with SATr and their families. The purposeful sample of 11 participants represented elementary school counselors from Northern and Southern Virginia and West Virginia. The participants had professional school counseling experience ranging from one to 27 years where they worked with a range of one to over 200 SATr and their families. A structured analysis process was used that included coding (i.e., open, axial, selective), writing textural and structural descriptions that were verified by participants, and developing composite summaries. This structured process uncovered the categories, sub-categories, and themes leading to a core category. Bracketing was used to maintain the trustworthiness of the research study. The findings included eight themes as continuums reflecting the various perceptions, needs, and practices of the participants in working with SATr and their families. The shared lived experiences can best be described as a 'CONTINUUM OF COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE' whereby elementary school counselors relied on using foundational counseling skills, understanding human development, applying multicultural competency, and being sensitive to adoption related practices. Additionally, they continually refined their practice strategies in being responsive to the needs of SATr and their families. Although the findings of this study cannot be generalized, the narratives of these elementary school counselors offer important insight and generate recommendations for practice. Salient recommendations include frequent collaboration among school and mental health counselors, the need for elementary school counselor advocacy to promote acceptance and inclusion of SATr and their families, and the necessity for counselor educators to include coursework on transracial adoption. Future research with middle and high school counselors, SATr and their families who have used school counseling services, and professional development training will deepen our understanding for inclusive comprehensive, developmentally appropriate school counseling programs. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Bibliography: leaves [34-36].

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Millions of children are suffering from mental health issues causing impairment in their lives (Center for Mental Health in Schools, n.d -a). Many of these children face barriers which impede the receiving of mental health services (Hodges, Nesman, & Hernandez, 2001). School counselors are in a position to provide mental health assistance. Collaboration is one role of the counselor used to enhance mental health services to children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions and experiences of elementary school counselor's collaborative efforts with community mental health providers. A phenomenological research design was used to better understand the essence of the collaborative experience. Ten elementary school counselors participated in two face-to-face, in-depth interviews. Triangulation of various data sources, including participant interviews, field notes, and reflexive journal entries, was conducted. These three data sources and a demographic survey were used for data analysis purposes. Data analysis included the process of code mapping of data. Six themes resulted from the data analysis. School counselor participants identified many types of interactions that occur through collaboration, including the sharing of knowledge, goal setting, conflict management, and the acting on information. They also determined school counselors and community mental health providers must be committed to the process for collaboration to be effective. Participants indentified several benefits to collaboration, including access to additional resources and support, consistency of counseling services, improvement of the student, time, and good business. It was also determined that there were several components to effective collaboration. Effective collaboration involved consistent communication, relationship building, networking, and logistics. Several barriers to collaboration were identified, including systemic, personal and/or environmental barriers. Participants also stated various changes needed for collaboration. These changes included more collaboration, consistency, networking, and communication. Implications of the findings indicate a need for more collaboration between elementary school counselors and community mental health providers. As school counselors, it is an ethical responsibility to advocate for time to collaborate. School counselors also need to allow time to network and build relationships with community mental health providers. These relationships increase the likelihood that collaboration will occur. / Ph. D.