Program Big Ideas

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Effective collaboration involves working cooperatively with others, often in groups or teams, to effect positive change for pupils. Collaborative work groups and group projects are an important part of CSP coursework. To the extent possible, groups represent different disciplines (teaching, counseling, and school psychology), providing students with the experience of working in multidisciplinary team.

Counseling and school psychology also requires well-developed oral communication skills. School counselors and psychologists have many opportunities to speak articulately and convincingly in front of diverse groups and in various situations (one-to-one with teachers, students, and parents; team meetings and formal in-service presentations). Class activities such as role-plays and oral presentations are designed to provide students with practice and training with their oral communication skills. Students learn to conduct effective oral presentations and are given specific feedback on their performance.

Reflection is the ability to step back and make explicit the logic underlying one’s actions. Effective reflection implies going beyond the application of technique and is critical to being able to improvise when confronted with complex or puzzling situations. Students in the Counseling and School Psychology Programs self-evaluate and deconstruct their actions to better understand their underlying logic and behaviors. School counselors and school psychologists are also often faced with complex and ambiguous situations where there is no clear answer. Tolerance for complexity and ambiguity allows students to be patient during the problem-solving process and not rush to act before they fully understand a situation.

The profession of counseling and school psychology requires effective writing skills e.g., memos, reports, lesson plans, and grant applications. Writing is often the most effective avenue to convey critically and reflectively the knowledge and skills learned in coursework and applied in the field. Course assignments include substantive written work, including research papers that conform to the APA format, reflection papers, report writing, and the creation of applied materials such as parent handouts.

School counselors and school psychologists are first advocates for the students they serve. To advocate for someone or something means to support or promote their interests. In counseling and school psychology we promote the interests of the children we serve by giving voice to their best interests, especially when they cannot speak for themselves.

We believe that effective solutions to a problem involves building on an understanding of
children’s strengths and resources as well as understanding their problems and needs.

Children are embedded in multiple systems, including families, schools, classrooms, and
communities. School counselors and school psychologists help children be more
successful in school and life by helping these systems become more competent.

Counseling and school psychology are a complex and demanding career that requires
practitioners to manage multiple projects at multiple sites. In order to be successful,
practitioners must have a good understanding of such skills as how to break projects into
doable sub-tasks, setting priorities, and managing calendars at multiple sites.