The Effects of Individual Counseling on Students with Disciplinary Issues

Abstract

The intent of this study is to ascertain if individual counseling can be used as an intervention to help those students who have continual, problematic, disciplinary issues. The literature review is presented, and discusses the possible outside influences to behavioral issues, as well as psychological factors, social-emotional supports, and counseling as an intervention. Similarly, this study examines if counseling can be an effective intervention for the students who receive multiple disciplinary referrals within a school year, but have not yet received individual counseling. Students were selected based upon a criterion of a minimum of 5 disciplinary interventions within the last school year (in school suspension, out of school suspension, multiple class failure across semester, insubordination, physical violence and continual reported peer conflict). Within this study, four students brought parental consent forms and signed minor assent forms in compliance to complete this six-session study. Students were given a pre-test at their first session, and a post-test at their last session. These tests were used as a means of self-report for the students to see if they could identify their feelings, attitudes, and areas of need before and after the intervention. Student disciplinary records were examined before and after the study as means to objectively view if the intervention may have been successful. Results supported the claim that counseling can be used as an effective intervention with this population. Both the participants’ self-report and disciplinary records proved that counseling was an effective was to minimize disciplinary referrals and aid in student self-awareness and coping skills.