School Counseling and the Student Athlete: College, Careers, Identity, and Culture

School Counseling and the Student Athlete is a game changer for every school counselor who works with high school and middle school students who dream about a future in sports. From coping with stress, to acquiring organizational skills and academic motivation, to exploring alternative careers, every critical topic is addressed in a way that is readily applicable but well supported with examples and research. The issues that student athletes bring to the counseling office go far beyond NCAA eligibility and college searches, and Zagelbaum thoroughly explores the personal/social, academic, career growth, developmental, physical, and psychological concerns and fears that students face. This book is an invaluable resource for every counselor who wants to best support students who have aspirations as athletes in life after high school.

-Carol Dahir, EdD, professor of school counseling at the New York Institute of Technology and co-author of The Transformed School Counselor

Sports are a central part of the American experience. Professor Zagelbaum provides a clear summary of the strengths of sports for developing youth strengths. His simultaneous awareness of some dangers will also act to improve athletic programs. We recommend this book highly.

-Allen E. Ivey, EdD, ABPP, distinguished university professor (emeritus) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Mary Bradford Ivey, EdD, professor of counseling at the University of South Florida

This is an important book that shows how counselors can understand and support the unique needs of student athletes. Professor Zagelbaum and his colleagues have done a masterful job in highlighting the complexity of working with this overlooked special counseling population. A must read for all school counselors.

-Jon Carlson, PsyD, EdD, distinguished professor of psychology and counseling at Governors State University