Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By:
Patricia Acosta
Psychologist, I have to be a good listener. Students will may not always feel comfortable enough
to talk about their feelings so school counselor/school psychologists need to listen to their
words, body language, attitudes and unspoken words. There is meaning behind these all and it is
our job to listen and help them through the challenges they are going through. My personal
mission statement that I believe explains who I am and what my passion is, is to help todays
youth through the struggles of lifes challenges. To be the support they need at school and to, not
only help them, but to also help them believe they can succeed in life. Provide compassion, be
The children I have worked with throughout the years, have had a huge impact on my interest in
becoming a School Counselor/School Psychologist. My first job out of high school was working
at a Montessori School and being the afterschool preschool teacher. I realized then, that children
spend most of their days at schools with teachers and the staff than their own parents. This has
made me want to be part of their support system, be there for them when their parents arent. As
a mother now of a teenager and a pre-teen and seeing how todays society is with some many
youth struggling, these have all made me want to be in a career where I can help students
passion of working with children and families in one of the most important capacities a school
staff member can. As a school counselor/school psychologist, we are the first line of defense at
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the school, which again, is where the students spend most of their days. We can have the most
impact on students lives through being their support system, addressing issues they are
struggling with and helping them learn how to solve problems (coping skills) to help them get
through lifes challenges. Being able to do all these things and seeing the growth, the results
What do you believe are the most important personal characteristics of a school
counselor/school psychologists?
I believe there are a few most important characteristics a school counselor/school psychologist
should have: to be a good listener, have empathy, build rapport quickly, help students find the
positives in life and helping them with coping skills and setting goals. Being a good listener is
number one, we have to be able to hear what he student is in need of by what they are saying and
not saying. We need to be attentive to their needs and be their advocates. Empathy is something
we also have to have, we need to be able to almost put ourselves in the students shoes and
understand how they are feeling then provide the support they need to resolve whatever struggle
they are in. We do this, by being informed of all resources within the school and definitely
within the community to help provide a solutions and goals to succeed. Building rapport with
the student quickly is important because without building a trusting relationship, there is no way
we will be able to begin to help the student with their struggles. Some students need help right
away, may have unbearable pain they are dealing with, so having the ability of making them feel
welcomed, calm and that they can talk to me about anything is a high priority. Helping students
find the positives in life, can help the students through the struggles they are having. I know in
my own life, I do this and it has helped me so much in feeling positive and dealing with any
personal challenges I have had. I think humor falls into this as well. With all the things students
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are struggling with, it is a school counselor/school psychologists job to be there as support but
also help them find ways to laugh. Helping students with their coping skills and setting goals is
where solution focused brief counseling comes in. I think this is a great way to help students
through their struggles and most importantly to learn to set goals since this is a skill youth today
What are the significant competencies you must possess to be not only an effective
A school counselor/school psychologists must be able to assess their own competencies and
profession. The American Association of School Counselors has outlined the competencies that
include the knowledge, abilities, skills and attitudes that ensure school counselors are equipped
to meet the rigorous demands of the profession and the needs of pre-K12 students. These
competencies help ensure new and experienced school counselors are equipped to establish,
achievement, career planning and personal/social development. (ASCA) They can be viewed
here: ASCA - School Counselor Competencies. School psychologists provide effective services
to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.
(NASP) The standards of school psychologists can be viewed here: NASP - Standards of School
Psychologists.
psychologists?
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I dont think, at this time, that my worldview will affect my performance as a school
wont let anything come in between that. I know there are legal standards that I have to abide by
as well as what the district policies are for the district I will be working for. There are also
ethical standards, but I will rely on my professional colleagues to guide me in the right direction
with these.
What strengths do I bring to the profession, and how can I maximize my ability to
utilize my strengths?
I believe I bring compassion, empathy, patience and a good listening ear as strengths to this
profession. These are characteristics that I have always had for my own children, the students I
have worked with in the past, my family and friends. Ill be able to maximize my ability to
utilize my strengths by continued self-care. I need to be able to recharge myself due to the issues
I will be dealing with so I can be always alert to not miss anything and to provide the best service
to the students I am working with. I also believe continued education will help me to continue to
in order to stay up to date with all the new laws and available resources that change and come up.
What limitations do I have that may interfere in my ability to be the best school
counselor/school psychologists I can be, and what are some ways I can mitigate for these
limitations?
The limitations I believe that may interfere with me being the best school counselor/school
psychologist is my big heart. I really have a lot of empathy for youth that are struggling or that
have no support at home, so it will be difficult for me not to take it home and try to help after
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hours. I know this is something that is important to establish as a boundary for me and my
family, and I will do. The best way for me to mitigate this is by completing any work I am doing
at school, provide all the resources I need to while at work and also to be organized. I feel that
with being organized, I will be able to prepare ahead of time for the next day which will help me
With which populations will I have a home court advantage and how can I ensure
I believe working with the elementary students will be a home court advantage for me. At the
beginning of this program, I was leaning more towards middle or high school but now after
doing my practicum shadowing a school psychologist who works at a continuation high school, I
feel that it is too intense for me. Knowing myself, its too much for me to handle the intense
situations I have already experienced and have heard of. Being aware of this, puts me in the
psychologist and the kind of image I want my school counseling/school psychology program
to have.
I would like to strive to be perceived as someone who is open, approachable, well informed and
hopefully has a good sense of humor. I think these are characteristics of someone that students
would feel comfortable speaking to and thankfully reflects my own values. I want them to know
that I am authentic, this will be important in working with students. These same characteristics
are in line with the image I want my school counseling/school psychology program to have.
I will stay committed to professional excellence by always being a good listener, this is key. In
order for me to do this, I will need to be able to separate my personal life with work in order to
stay on point every day when working with students so I do not miss anything. Staying up to
date with continued education along with the laws and policies the districts have, will also be
can refer any student that needs additional help too. And most importantly, I will always make
References
www.schoolcounselor.org