What is School Counseling?

What is school counseling?

School counseling is a comprehensive program designed to promote and enhance student performance and achievement by addressing the academic, career, and personal/social needs of all students. The program is administered by professional counselors and is delivered through individual counseling, classroom guidance, and small group counseling. The term “guidance counselor” has changed to “school counselor” as their expected duties are more extensive than that of a vocational guidance counselor.

Academic

Academic counseling may include:

  • teaching study skills
  • teaching test-taking skills
  • academic planning
  • discussing graduation requirements
  • assisting with course selection
  • exploring individual learning styles

Career

Career counseling may include:

  • exploring careers and career fields using various career exploration material
  • administering career interest inventories
  • using personality assessments to match students with potential careers
  • helping students match individual strengths with career plans
  • helping students develop plans for what they will do after high school
  • exploring colleges, technical and trade schools, apprenticeship, military and other employment opportunities
  • helping with college admission applications
  • assisting with preparation for college admission tests like the ACT
  • teaching scholarship search techniques
  • educating students about and assisting them with the financial aid application process

Personal / Social

This type of counseling involves addressing students' needs through one-on-one counseling relationship in matters such as peer pressure, conflict resolution, family relationships, personal identity issues, grief and loss, suicide, child abuse, substance abuse, school dropout prevention, motivation and achievement concerns.

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What does your school counselor do with all her time?


Guidance Curriculum

Teach guidance lessons and lead classroom discussions in the areas of academic, career and personal social development.

Individual Student Planning

Work with students one-on-one on an as needed basis in the areas of goal setting, career planning, academic program planning, course selection and the interpretation and application of assessment information to guide academic program planning.

Responsive Services

Responsive services are usually short-term in nature and designed to meet students' immediate needs. They may be provided in a direct format through individual and group counseling, including crisis counseling, or indirectly through consultation, peer facilitation or outside referral.

System Support

This time is to be used for activities that establish, maintain and enhance the total school counseling program. Because this component doesn't involve direct student interaction, we try to limit it to less than 25% of our time.