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Where do you fell you role as a school counselor ends and the need for a mental health therapist begins? I know different states have different qualifications for school counselors. I have 25 years of teaching experience and have now been a school counselor for two years. Even thought I have a master's degree in school counseling that required me to take many of the same courses required for mental health counselors, I do not feel comfortable working with a student with a DSM diagnosis. For example, right now I am working with a student referred to me by the principal because the mother thinks the child is depressed. The principal talked with the child first and agrees. I began working with the child this week and also agree. But, I am not qualified to officially make that diagnosis. After talking to the child one day this week and having her tell me some pretty disturbing things, I called the mother and told her I felt like the child should be under the care of her PCP and/or mental h...See More
Linsey When I was a school counselor, I used to use the analogy of the school nurse compared to the doctor. I felt it was my job to put band aids on problems and send students back to class. No one expects a school nurse to set a broken leg. In Texas, at least, school counselor are not supposed to do therapy. Many times I asked myself,"does this require a...See More
Feb 22, 2012
JAR Great analogy. Thanks.
Feb 22, 2012
delehla On 2/22/12, JAR wrote: I agree. As much as I want to help a student who has mental health issues, I'm not really qualified, so referring is the best solution. We can still serve a great purpose as a screener and a listener.

> Great analogy. Thanks.
Apr 6, 2012


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