© 2012 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
405 Emmet Street; Charlottesville, VA 22904.
The School Counseling program at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education is designed to prepare students to become accountable, competent, and reflective counselors who promote the academic, career, and personal/social development of PK - 16 youth. Our goal is to be a national model for master’s preparation of professional counselors specializing in school counseling and working with PK-16. Upon graduation, our students are competent in providing professional academic, career, and personal/social services to people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition, they have demonstrated proficiency in effectively evaluating programmatic interventions. Further, our students demonstrate a commitment to advocacy as competent school counselors who address individual and systemic barriers to educational achievement and personal development in the context of a comprehensive developmental school counseling program.
Counselor Education Student Handbook
School Counseling Supervision Training Module for Site Supervisors
Internship Field Experience Guide
Professional associations are vital to the productive professional life of counselors. Faculty members expect students to join appropriate associations. Membership dues are usually less for students, and members receive professional newsletters, journals, announcements of professional activities, updates about federal legislation and policies that have an impact on counseling services and on professional counselors, and opportunities to network. In addition, members are offered professional liability insurance at reduced rates.
Application forms for the American Counseling Association (ACA) are available through ACA. ACA also has a number of divisions that focus on specialty areas (e.g., counselor education and supervision, group counseling, mental health, school, assessment, creativity in counseling, spirituality). You may access information about ACA and its divisions via the Internet at: http://www.counseling.org. You may also contact ACA at 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304-3300; or 1-800-347-6647.
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social and career development so they achieve success in school and are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society. ASCA provides professional development, publications and other resources, research and advocacy to more than 27,000 professional school counselors around the globe. Their website is http://www.schoolcounselor.org/
The Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) is a state branch of the ACA. Similar to ACA, VCA has several divisions as well as local branches throughout the Commonwealth. Our local branch is the Jefferson Area Counselor Association. We encourage you to join VCA and JCA early on in your program. This is an excellent way to learn more about our profession and to become involved in issues and activities that can influence the delivery of counseling services in Virginia. We have VCA applications in the Counselor Education Resource Room. You may access information about VCA and JCA via the Internet at: www.vcacounselors.org.
Other professional associations: