The Transition from Guidance Counseling to School Counseling
School of Counseling and Human Services, Walden University COUN
6111: Introduction to Clinical School Counseling Professor Natalie
13:56:02 GMT -05:00
, The Transition from Guidance Counseling to School Counseling
School Counseling is a field in which continuous changes and adaptations will always be
relevant and necessary. The school counselor profession has grown throughout history due to
various contributions, and this specialized professional role is constantly being impacted by new
ideas and necessities. In this paper, we will discuss how the scope of guidance counseling has
grown over the years leading up to it’s current state, which is now backed by legislation and
officially titled “school counselor” (Gysbers, 2017). We will also discuss the new direction of
school counseling and my vision of where it is heading in the future.
Guidance Counseling
In order to truly understand the differences between modern day school counseling and
the past roles of a guidance counselor, it is important to note the original ideas that created a need
for guidance counseling. These ideas began with a man named Lysander Richards back in the
early 1900’s. Lysander was the first to introduce the phrase vocational guidance, his idea was
that students needed a career mindset to inspire success (Gysbers, 2017). In light of this idea,
many advocates pushed for the implementation of new teachings in schools surrounding
workforce preparation. Pupil interviews, collective records, occupational information and
obtaining work permits all became tasks that were assigned to various teachers and
administrators in addition to their current roles (Gysbers, 2017). At this time there were no
counselors involved.
It wasn’t until the 1920’s when a man named George Myers introduced the idea that
vocational guidance should require specialized training, which would turn out to be a major
turning point in the profession (Gysbers, 2017). Even with some training being provided to
guidance counselors, it was still teachers who were providing these part time services to students.
13:56:02 GMT -05:00
School of Counseling and Human Services, Walden University COUN
6111: Introduction to Clinical School Counseling Professor Natalie
13:56:02 GMT -05:00
, The Transition from Guidance Counseling to School Counseling
School Counseling is a field in which continuous changes and adaptations will always be
relevant and necessary. The school counselor profession has grown throughout history due to
various contributions, and this specialized professional role is constantly being impacted by new
ideas and necessities. In this paper, we will discuss how the scope of guidance counseling has
grown over the years leading up to it’s current state, which is now backed by legislation and
officially titled “school counselor” (Gysbers, 2017). We will also discuss the new direction of
school counseling and my vision of where it is heading in the future.
Guidance Counseling
In order to truly understand the differences between modern day school counseling and
the past roles of a guidance counselor, it is important to note the original ideas that created a need
for guidance counseling. These ideas began with a man named Lysander Richards back in the
early 1900’s. Lysander was the first to introduce the phrase vocational guidance, his idea was
that students needed a career mindset to inspire success (Gysbers, 2017). In light of this idea,
many advocates pushed for the implementation of new teachings in schools surrounding
workforce preparation. Pupil interviews, collective records, occupational information and
obtaining work permits all became tasks that were assigned to various teachers and
administrators in addition to their current roles (Gysbers, 2017). At this time there were no
counselors involved.
It wasn’t until the 1920’s when a man named George Myers introduced the idea that
vocational guidance should require specialized training, which would turn out to be a major
turning point in the profession (Gysbers, 2017). Even with some training being provided to
guidance counselors, it was still teachers who were providing these part time services to students.
13:56:02 GMT -05:00
