Final answer:
A school counselor performs multiple roles, such as group counseling, external referrals, student advocacy, and crisis support; therefore, the correct answer is 'All of the above'. There is an urgent need for additional counselors at colleges such as Powell College South due to high staff-to-student ratios, resulting in inadequate support and long wait times for students seeking mental health services. option E
Step-by-step explanation:
A school counselor is someone who performs a variety of functions to support students. These duties include small group counseling, making referrals to services outside of school, advocating for students, and providing crisis intervention and support. In fact, the correct answer is E. All of the above.
On college campuses such as Powell College South, there is a significant need for more school counselors. This is because the staff-to-student ratio is too high, which can lead to longer wait times for counseling services and insufficient support for students with mental health issues. According to the International Association of Counseling Services, the recommended ratio is one full-time equivalent staff member for every 1,000 to 1,500 students. Given the existing situation at Powell College South, with only two mental health counselors on staff, hiring additional counselors would provide much-needed mental health services and allow more students to receive timely counseling.
Utilizing problem-solution reasoning, there are three clear points that underscore the need for more counselors:
- Wait times for appointments are approximately 10 days, which is too long.
- Mental health issues are widespread among the student population.
- The current staff-to-student ratio does not meet the recommended standards, which impacts the quality and accessibility of available counseling services.
Additional office space such as in Pennington Hall could be repurposed to accommodate the increased counseling staff, addressing the current challenge of space limitations.