Benefits & Limitations of School Counseling

The Elementary School Counselor would like to ensure that students and parents are fully informed about the benefits and limitations of a virtual platform when it comes to school counseling services.

Benefits:

• Online platforms provide school counselors with the ability to communicate and disseminate information to students as well as parents/guardians in an efficient manner.

  • Communicating online provides flexibility for the counselors as well as accessibility for students to review information at their convenience.

  • Parents also have more flexibility to participate in meetings through alternative methods (e.g. WebEx, Google Hangouts).

• Certain students may feel more comfortable using the school counseling services through a virtual platform compared to appointments in person.

  • Less anxiety may be associated with disclosing information electronically to school counselors.

  • Online services can give students a greater sense of autonomy and empowerment to use school counseling services.

• School counselors have the ability to collaborate with other staff/teachers online to make sure the students are receiving the proper services needed for their success within and outside of the classroom.

Limitations:

• Confidentiality and privacy cannot be guaranteed with services provided through online platforms.

  • In the event that a student/parent identifies or a school counselor believes that the virtual meeting is not private or other participants not anticipated are observed, the meeting will be rescheduled for another time when confidentiality and privacy can be ensured.

• Depending on each individual student’s needs, telecounseling may or may not be the best medium. School counselors will try to recommend the best medium based on each individual student and their visual and/or verbal needs.

  • In a crisis situation, please dial 911.

• Timing of connections with students and parents based on virtual activity.

• Students who do not have access to a computer or the internet should contact their school counselor by phone.

• Technical issues

  • In the event of technological failure during a meeting, the school counselor will make attempts to reconnect for ten minutes. If the internet or technological failure cannot be resolved, the school counselor will call you back via the telephone.

  • If the technological failure interferes with the goals of the meeting being achieved, another meeting will be scheduled at a mutually convenient date and time.