One of the most rewarding jobs is being a school counselor. You have the opportunity to guide students on a path to a successful life. This can be a great source of pride in yourself. You can help students overcome problems, and prepare for the world.
Of course, a school counseling job isn’t always easy. You have to deal with deep issues, and sometimes counsel students with serious problems. You need all the help you can get when you are a school counselor. If you are looking for helpful information on dealing with school-age children, you can turn to solid resources offered by various educational institutions. Here are 50 dot-edu resources that school counselors can use:
Developmental and Child Psychology
A basic understanding of how the mind develops can help you as you help students. You should understand developmental psychology. Additionally, child psychology — and adolescent psychology — resources can help you gain valuable insight into the ways your students’ minds work.
- Developmental Psychology: Join this division of the APA for insights into the developing psyche.
- Teaching Resources: Even if you aren’t teaching developmental psych, these resources can provide you with plenty of insight and helpful places to get information.
- Online Developmental Psychology Resources: The Children’s Memory Study at Loyola offers a look at different resources related to developmental psych.
- Developmental Psychology: Indian University offers a resource guide that can help you find journal articles, as well as dictionaries and more.
- GMU’s Online Resources for Developmental Psychology: Anyone — not just GMU students — can get access to these great resources.
- Adolescent Psychology: Great subject guide that provides you with information on adolescent psych.
- Child & Adolescent Psychology: Access to databases, articles, books, and more related to the psychology of children and adolescents.
- Moral Development and Moral Education: An Overview: A great look at how morals are developed, and the role of education in psychological development.
- Teen Years Explained: Interactive guide to adolescent development.
Depression and Mental Health
Understanding the basics of mental health, especially depression, can be useful for school counselors. Children and teenagers are dealing with a number of pressures in this age, and being able to help them with their mental health outcomes can be a true life-saver.
- Resources for Depression: This resource from Colorado State University offers you a good place to start.
- Mental Depression Resources: A number of helpful resources, from articles to citations, on mental depression.
- Depression Research Clinic: Standford provides access to information, as well as the results of research into depression.
- Psychosocial Research and Depression Clinic: Access research, training opportunities and more related to depression.
- National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health: Ideas, developmental points, and ideas for health mental health development in children.
- Mental Health Resources: Great direction for learning about mental health and finding the resources you need.
Body Image, Sexuality and Physical Health
Body image is a big deal for most teenagers. Even younger children are being affected by body image problems. Learn more about helping young people improve their self-image and live healthier.
- Body Image: A research guide that can help you find background on body image and health.
- Body Image Dissatisfaction: A Growing Concern Among Men: We focus a lot on females and body image. Don’t forget to look at males as well.
- Body Image and Adolescents: This chapter takes a look at body image challenges for teenagers.
- Teen body image — reality versus perception: An interesting look at how teens view themselves. Don’t forget to watch the video.
- Health Teen Development Resources: Covers physical health, sexuality and more. Great resources.
- Teen sexuality: A great opinion piece on sexuality, as well as misconceptions seen in the media.
- Safer Sex Resources: Helpful information and resources for school counselors who deal with teen pregnancy and sexuality.
- Teens in Trouble: Eating Disorders: Learn more about eating disorders, and addressing dangerous aspects of these problems.
- Eating Disorders: Myths and Campus Resources: While this resource is aimed at college students, it is still helpful for school counselors dealing with younger people.
- Go Ask Alice: Great insight for teens, and a good resource for school counselors.
Drugs and Other Addictions
Substance abuse can be a very real issue for many young people. You should have a working understanding of the signs of an addiction, as well as some ideas for what you can do to treat the problem, or find someone who can help.
- SAMHDA: The University of Michigan offers this helpful access to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Data Archive.
- Street Drug Slang Dictionary: A searchable resource so that you are informed.
- The New Science of Addiction: Find out how addiction affects the brain.
- Alcohol Abuse and Young People: Looks at the realities of drinking and students.
- Drug and Alcohol Resources: Where to turn for information and help.
- Alcohol & Other Drugs: A look at news related to teen health and substance abuse.
- Teen Drug Use: Interview on teen drug use.
- Teen Alcohol and Drug Use: More on teens and substance abuse.
- Internet Addiction: Learn about this growing threat.
Bullying
Resources on bullying can help you keep tabs on students, and help them overcome problems. It is important to remember that bullying is more than just physical altercations. Verbal and emotional bullying can be devastating, and digital forms of bullying (cell phones or the Internet) are on the rise.
- SourceBook of Drug and Violence Programs for Children and Adolescents: This resource focuses on violence as part of substance abuse and other issues, and can help you prepare anti-violence programs.
- Stop School Bullying: Plenty of great resources to help you prevent all types of bullying.
- Bullying Prevention and Intervention Resources: Stage an intervention/prevention program at your school.
- Case Five: Cyber Bullying: Find out about this growing threat.
- Bullying Research Network: Plenty of information about bullying, and how to prevent it.
- The Bullying Epidemic: A look at confronting bullying and changing the outcomes.
- Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center: Help prevent aggression and bullying.
- Olweus Bulling Prevention Program: Implement this program to reduce bullying in your school.
Child Abuse
Many children and teenagers are subject to child abuse. You need to recognize the signs that someone is being abused physically, emotionally or sexually, and be prepared to provide support and assistance to the abused.
- Child Abuse Prevention Network: Plenty of help from Cornell University.
- Child Abuse Prevention Project: Helpful information and resources, as well as study results.
- Signs & Symptoms of Abuse/Neglect: A look at how you can possibly identify signs of abuse.
- Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding for Educators: This resources is fairly straightforward, and aimed at educators and others working in schools.
- Child Physical and Sexual Abuse: Guidelines for Treatments: Advice on helping victims.
- Child Abuse Prevention Society: Get involved, and find information on child abuse.
- Child Abuse: Covers the basics of child abuse, so that you know what you are dealing with.
- Prevention: Do your part to help prevent child abuse, and be on alert.
