For a school-aged child, transitions are part of the developmental process. However, sometimes circumstances out of the child’s control dictate that an unwanted transition must take place, such as moving to a new school. School counselors are uniquely qualified to help the student prepare for expected transitions, such as advancing from elementary to middle school, and unexpected transitions, such as a move to a new school due to family issues. Both scenarios can create highly stressful and potentially traumatic times for students.

Review the ASCA National Model’s three domains: academic, career, and personal/social. Identify at least three strategies that you could use to help students prepare for and cope with these crises.