Why School Counselors?

Why School Counselors? The school years set the tone for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skill necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, school counselors work as a team with the school staff, parents and the community to create a caring climate and atmosphere. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, school counselors can help all children achieve academic success. The professional school counselor holds a master’s degree in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students.

Students’ Developmental Needs

The school years are an important time when children begin to develop their academic self-concept, their feelings of competence and confidence as learners. They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication and life skills, as well as character values. It is also a time when students develop and acquire attitudes toward school, self, peers, social groups and family. Comprehensive school counseling programs provide education, prevention and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. Early identification and intervention of children’s academic and personal/social needs is essential in removing barriers to learning and in promoting academic achievement. The knowledge, attitudes and skills that students acquire in the areas of academic, career and personal/social development during these years serve as the foundation for future success.

School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:

School Guidance Curriculum

• Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills

• Goal setting and decision-making

• Career awareness, exploration and planning

• Education on understanding self and others

• Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills

• Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution

Individual Student Planning

• Academic planning

• Goal setting/decision- making

• Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses

• Transition plans

Responsive Services

• Individual and small-group counseling

• Individual/family/school crisis intervention

• Conflict resolution

• Consultation/collaboration

• Referrals

System Support

• Professional development

• Consultation, collaboration and teaming

• Program management and operation

School Counselors Collaborate with:

Parents

• • Parent education

  • Communication/networking

  • Academic planning

  • Career awareness programs

  • One-on-one parent conferencing

    • Teachers

• • Classroom guidance activities

  • Academic support

  • Classroom speakers

  • At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success

    • Administrators

• School climate

• Behavioral management plans

• School-wide needs assessments

• Student data and results

• RTI Academic and Positive Behavior Support Teams

Students

• Peer education

• Peer support

• Academic support

• School climate

• Community

• Crisis interventions

• Referrals

• Support groups

• Career education

**These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive