University/District Collaboration Play Therapy Clinics

Introduction

The American Association of School Counseling Association (ASCA) recommends a ratio of one counselor to every 250 students (2017). However, a recent study of trends in student to counselor ratios indicates that in some states the ratio is as low as 200:1 and as high as 924:1 (ASCA, 2014). It is obvious that with ratios this high, a school counselor can only provide limited counseling to the highest need children. The challenges that elementary schools deal with are legion, and the school counselor is often overwhelmed at the prospect of being the sole individual trained and responsible for the mental health concerns for all students in the school. Our hope is that by developing and operating a school based play therapy clinic in collaboration between a university and a local school district will not only aid in the school counselor stress but also better meet the social emotional needs of the children attending the school.