This dissertation research examines and critiques the perceptions and lived experiences of urban secondary school counselors, administrators, and teachers on the roles of school counseling in urban education. The role of school counseling in urban education has been misunderstood for decades perpetuating tensions in the role, resulting in school counselors having much difficulty developing a "true" professional identity. Following one year of data collected through 30 school counselor, 8 administrator, and 24 teacher interviews, and American School Counselor Association curriculum analysis, I argue that the perceptions about the role of school counseling impact the professional identity of urban school counselors influencing their practice with their historically marginalized students. Specifically, the role definitions of school counselors that are embedded in the organizational identity contribute to the tensions in the role causing role ambiguity and intrapersonal and interpersonal role conflict for urban school counselors.