Elementary school counsellors' perceptions of their role with families

Elementary school counsellors (ESC) play a crucial role in facilitating partnerships between family and school. lbis study explores ESCs' perceptions of their role with families. lbis qualitative, inductive research utilizes a descriptive/ exploratory approach. The participants were four ESCs, with backgrounds in teaching, and elementary school counselling, working in elementary schools within one school district in the Northern British Columbian public school system. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data analysis processes included: sorting, coding, categorizing, and memoing. The participants discussed a number of ways of working with families to promote the child's progress in school. A variety of role and family related challenges emerged from the participants' discussions. Strategies to address these challenges are explored. Findings from this study indicated that ESCs use consultation processes to work in partnership with families, and with the child, to support the child's positive academic and social development.