DIRECT STUDENT SERVICES

"Direct student services are delivered through three elements: school counseling core curriculum, individual student planning and responsive services (Gysbers & Henderson, 2012)." 

"Direct student services of the school counseling program include activities that promote academic, career and personal/social development. These activities are provided to all students in the school. In addition, school counselors use data to identify students with achievement, attendance or behavioral needs impeding student success. To reach the whole student body or entire grade levels, school counselors focus on classroom or large-group settings. For more student-specific activities, school counselors focus on small group or individual settings." 

1. School Counseling Core Curriculum

"The school counseling core curriculum is delivered through such strategies as":

• "Instruction: School counselors provide direct instruction, team teach or assist in teaching the school counseling core curriculum, learning activities or units in classrooms or other school facilities. They may also provide follow-up to small groups or individual students as needed."
• "Group Activities: School counselors conduct planned activities outside the classroom to promote academic, career, or personal/social development." 

2. Individual Student Planning

"School counselors use these activities to help all students plan, monitor and manage their own learning as well as to achieve academic, career and personal/social competencies aligned with the school counseling core curriculum. Individual student planning is implemented through such strategies as appraisal and advisement."

3. Responsive Services

"Responsive services consist of activities designed to meet student's immediate needs and concerns. This component is available to all students and may be initiated by students, teachers or parents or by school counselors after a review of data. Responsive services are designed to help students resolve academic, career, and personal/social issues and are delivered through such strategies as":

• "Counseling: School counselors provide counseling sessions in individual or small group settings to help students overcome issues impeding achievement or success. The counseling process helps students identify problems, causes, alternatives and possible consequences so they can make decisions and take appropriate actions." 
• "Crisis Response: School counselors provide support and assistance to students as they navigate critical and emergency situations. Crisis response includes intervention and follow-up to the immediate needs and is designed to prevent the situation from becoming more severe. There are often written procedures provided by the school or district that are to be used in crisis situations."

INDIRECT STUDENT SERVICES

"School counselors work with a variety of people to deliver these services. They may interact with parents, teachers, administrators, school staff and community stakeholders in order to promote student achievement for a specific student or to promote systemic change to address the needs of underachieving or underrepresented groups of students in the school. These services are delivered through such strategies as referrals, consultation, and collaboration."

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Excerpts from: ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, 3rd Ed., 2012.