Counseling
School Counseling
Professional school counselors are highly educated individuals who help students succeed in school and plan their career. An integral part of the total education system, school counselors help students form healthy goals, mindsets and behaviors. With the aid of a school counselor, students learn to develop effective collaboration and cooperation skills, to practice perseverance, to develop time management and study skills, and to learn self-motivation and self-direction habits. (ASCA)
GCPS school counselors define and focus the school counseling program based on the school’s academic, attendance and discipline data. Identifying student needs through this data and consulting with administrators guides program development. School counselors provide equitable and appropriate services by addressing students’ academic, career and social/emotional developmental needs in addition to balancing delivery methods, recognizing students learn in multiple ways. The end result of this work is reflected in improvement in academic, attendance and discipline outcomes related to academic development, college and career readiness and social/ emotional development. (ASCA)
School counselors adhere to the American School Counseling Association’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors and American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics. School counseling services are also guided by the Virginia Code and by policies put forth by the Virginia Department of Education and the Gloucester County School Board.
School counselors are developmental specialists and can help with a variety of issues, but they are not therapists. If your child needs therapeutic assistance, your child’s school counselor can provide referrals appropriate for you and your child’s needs.
Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school counselor if you have any questions she/he/they might be able to help you with and to share any information about your child which may be helpful to their school success.
Important Resources:
ACSA: schoolcounselor.org
ACA: counseling.org
GCPS Policy Manual: gets.gc.k12.va.us/o/gcps/page/gcps-policy-manual
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