Is it appropriate for school counselors to provide short-term individual and small group counseling services to students?

Short-term individual and small group counseling services offered by school counselors aim to address immediate student needs and support their social and emotional development. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model emphasizes the importance of providing responsive services, which includes individual counseling as well as small group counseling. These services are considered appropriate as they can help students navigate personal challenges, improve their academic performance, and enhance their overall well-being.

Offering these services as part of a comprehensive school counseling program empowers counselors to respond to varied student needs, fostering a supportive environment. The ability to provide such interventions aligns with best practices outlined in the ASCA framework, which advocates for school counselors to actively engage in direct support of students.

Thus, the provision of short-term counseling services is not only appropriate, but functions as an essential part of a school counselor's role to actively support students' emotional, social, and academic growth.