School Counselors and Students with Behavioral Emotional Disabilities

School Counselors provide supportive services to help students meet their educational needs. Students who experience behavioral emotional disabilities exhibit behaviors often times interfering in the learning process and resulting in disciplinary consequences. School counselors are among professionals who could provide short-term intervention counseling to meet the academic, social and behavioral needs of these students. Terminological references frequently change and receive attention, but foci regarding professional preparedness, prevalence of service delivery, referral and follow up receive less attention. This research was designed as an initial and specific inquiry of school counselors'' perceptions, roles and experiences with students with behavioral emotional disabilities. Areas of inquiry included their educational background, level of knowledge, as well as interest in professional development to acquire knowledge and skills. Meeting the needs of all students is paramount in education, particulary students who experience behavioral and emotional challenges while learning.