What Does a School Counselor Do?
BELIEF
All students are able to achieve great things.
MISSION
The School Counselor will work with all students to help lessen any obstacle that may be preventing them from achieving their personal, social/emotional, academic and career goals.
VISION
Using a comprehensive school counseling program the school counselor will also partner with a student's family, teachers, school administrators, and utilize the support of educational and community partners to help ensure students feel safe and supported enough to achieve their highest potential.
As part of a comprehensive school counseling program I focus on the following areas:
Classroom Curriculum
I will be in each classroom working on comprehensive programs that promote knowledge and skills in three content areas: academic achievement, career development and personal/social/emotional growth
Individual and Small Group Counseling
I will work with a small group of students, with a focus on various academic, personal, or social/emotional goals. Parents/guardians will always be informed when their student will participate in a small group.
When appropriate, I will meet with individuals on a short-term basis, doing brief solution-focused counseling.
Responsive Services
Furthermore, in an ongoing and as-needed basis I am a member of the Health & Wellness Team (H&WT) and Attendance Team. I also work with students in crisis while assisting staff, students, and families on referrals.
Informed Consent - Confidentiality
Because counseling is based on a trusting relationship between the school counselor and student the school counselor will keep information confidential/private with some possible exceptions.
All that is shared with the school counselor will be confidential with the exceptions of the following conditions.
1. If the student expresses to hurt themselves or others
2. Evidence or disclosure of abuse (physically, emotionally, and sexually) or neglect
3. Threats to school security
4. Legal requirements demand a release of information
Other times I may ask the student for permission to share information with parents/guardians, the child’s teacher, and/or administrators who work with the child on a need to know basis, so that we may better help the student as a team. With the exception of the above times, without a student's permission I will not share information given in confidence.