Review of school counseling outcome research

Abstract This article is somewhat unique in this special issue as it focuses on the effectiveness of an array of school counseling interventions and not solely on individual and group counseling. In summarizing the school counseling outcome literature, the authors found that students who participated in school counseling interventions tended to score on various outcome measures about a third of a standard deviation above those who did not receive the interventions. School counseling interventions produced quite large effect sizes in the areas of discipline, problem solving, and increasing career knowledge. The effect sizes were smaller, but significant, related to school counseling interventions' impact on academic achievement. Surprisingly little school counseling research was found related to individual counseling. Concerning guidance curriculum, small groups were more effective than interventions that involved entire classrooms. Furthermore, outcome research reflects that group counseling can be effective with students who are experiencing problems and difficulties. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.