Guidance Counseling at Deaf Schools

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arumberg

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Hello, all! First, I want to introduce myself. My name is Autumn, and my job goal is to become a guidance counselor. After taking an Intro to ASL class in college, I have become very interested in ASL and Deaf culture, and have decided to do some research about what it would take to become a guidance counselor at a deaf school. I had posted on another (non-deaf) forum requesting any information they could give me, and one person directed me here. I have tried searching the internet for guidance counseling information for deaf education, but unfortunately all I seem to come across is teaching information. I am currently taking classes towards a concentration in deaf ed through my college which I figure will be helpful, even if I only ever become a guidance counselor at a hearing school since even then I may find myself counseling a deaf child.

So I figured I would post here requesting information about guidance counseling at a deaf school. Does anyone know any websites I can look at for additional information or have any ideas about how I could go about finding information? I know Gallaudet has a Master's program for guidance counseling for deaf schools, but are there any other programs similar to this put there? If anyone has any information or words of advice, I would love to read them.

Thanks a bunch!
~Autumn
 
hello there! it seems you and i are going for the same future occupation. i have run into some walls as well. dont give up. you might look at gally online to see what the college can offer or try to get intouch with them by email or phone and they can give you some idea of what your looking at. alos, you might try to contact a vocational rehab center in your town to see if they can give you any ideas. i think your best bet is to do a few searches online for the field that you are trying to go into. then start emailing any contacts that that pulls up. then from there you can have more options of what would be required as far as education and which schools require what as far as credintials to hire guidence councler. the internet is your best resource. also you might do a google search for deaf schools and then contact them all at thier human resource office or counseling office and tell them what you are trying to do and see if they might be able to point you in any direction as far as contacts or what they require at that school for employment. just a couple thoughts..... i know the most you can do in counseling with an AA is like drug counseling or teachers assistant, a BA you can do like some career counseling and some early education counseling or entry level counseling jobs, with a masters you can be a vocational rehab counsler and up from there....

have you thought any about maybe advocacy for the deaf? anyway, hope that can give you a little direction. best of luck on your journey. if youd like to talk more feel free to send me a private message or email.
 
do you mind me asking... are you deaf or hearing? there are other places besides gally that teach the deaf and several mainstream colleges that can offer you direction as well.
 
I am hearing. As of right now, Gallaudet was the only school that the head of my school's deaf ed. department mentioned when I met with him briefly last semester. I want to meet with him sometime this week to talk a bit more about my interests. I realize that there are several other deaf colleges out there, but I was wondering if any of them specifically had a program for guidance counseling for the deaf. Thank you for all the information you have provided :)
 
I'd suggest fluency in ASL, strong cultural knowledge and a great degree of experience interacting with the Deaf, at least a Master's degree in counseling with a focus on school counseling, and to stop calling them "guidance couselor's". That term stopped being used years ago. They are now known as "school based counselors" and are required to have licensure as such through an accredited program and the passing of national standards testing.
 
I'm sorry, but I've never heard the term "school based counselor" used in any context. Nearly all of the school counseling Master's programs that I've looked at, including the one at my own University, have the Master's program listed as some variation of: "School Guidance Counseling" (The one at my school specifically is called "Guidance Counseling and Student Affairs"). I'm not intending to be rude, but I've never been told to go to the "school-based counselor's office" when I was in high school (not all that long ago), so I see no problem calling them guidance counselors. I'm really not looking for a discussion of the correct term for the field I wish to pursue, but rather helpful information regarding the field.

As per your other advice, I agree about having a good bit of information and experience under my belt. I was able to speak with a teacher at a deaf school via another forum about my interests, and she has suggested volunteering at the closest state school and getting into touch with some of the counselors there. Hopefully that will open some doors and provide me with a bit more information.

I'd still really like to hear any information or suggestions anyone has. I'd especially appreciate some input from any education professionals, counselors or otherwise. Thanks for all the advice so far!

Thanks,
~Autumn
 
I am a teacher of the Deaf..I can ask around about programs. I only know of one at Gallaudet and I am not sure if one university in California has one.
 
arumberg said:
I'm sorry, but I've never heard the term "school based counselor" used in any context. Nearly all of the school counseling Master's programs that I've looked at, including the one at my own University, have the Master's program listed as some variation of: "School Guidance Counseling" (The one at my school specifically is called "Guidance Counseling and Student Affairs"). I'm not intending to be rude, but I've never been told to go to the "school-based counselor's office" when I was in high school (not all that long ago), so I see no problem calling them guidance counselors. I'm really not looking for a discussion of the correct term for the field I wish to pursue, but rather helpful information regarding the field.

As per your other advice, I agree about having a good bit of information and experience under my belt. I was able to speak with a teacher at a deaf school via another forum about my interests, and she has suggested volunteering at the closest state school and getting into touch with some of the counselors there. Hopefully that will open some doors and provide me with a bit more information.

I'd still really like to hear any information or suggestions anyone has. I'd especially appreciate some input from any education professionals, counselors or otherwise. Thanks for all the advice so far!

Thanks,
~Autumn
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The vast majority of states do not recognize the term :guidance counseling". Also, the vast majority of states also require licensure as a counselor. In the past, one could substitute education and internship with classroom experience and then be moved into the "guidance counselor" position, which was basically an attendance taker and record keeper. That is no longer so. Additionally, since you will be working with a special population, you will need a foundation and licensure in rehabilitation issues as well as mental health issues as applied to that special population. I am Ph.D in counseling with my LPCC and my CRC certification.
 
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