What is a School Counselor?

This is a common question amongst parents, students, and even faculty. A school counselor will usually have a different role depending on the school he or she is in, however, the overarching goal is usually the same across all districts. School counselors are a part of the education team, but not in the same way as teachers. Their job is to provide support and assistance to students by helping them with their social and emotional needs, academic goals, and with their career development. It is the counselors job to advocate for each and every student to become the best person they can be while helping them succeed in their schooling. By providing appropriate guidance, school counselors can help students become the well-adjusted and productive adults of tomorrow!

A school counselor has a vast array of responsibilities, but their duties focus around creating programs throughout the school to help enhance school climate. This is done through core curriculum, individual student planning, prevention, and responsive services. A large portion of their time is spent doing individual and group counseling, as well as classroom guidance lessons. Overall, school counselors spend the majority of their time and energy ensuring the success of all students in the entire district.

Counselor Dos & Don'ts

Does:

• Work with ALL students

• Care for ALL students

• Listen to student's thoughts and feelings

• Educate on social and emotional skills

• Follow confidentiality appropriatley

• Assist in career development

• Advocate for ALL students

• Provide short term individual counseling

• Assist students' with solving problems and decision making

• Help students talk with teachers

• Work with students on reducing stress or anxiety

• Help students' have difficult conversations with parents

• Assist in conflict resolution

• Work with the school community

• Assist students' with a crisis

• Identify issues that prevent student success

• Hold small group counseling sessions

• Help students develop skills for academic success

• Help students become successful in school and their personal lives

• Give students a voice when they don’t think they have one

• Refer students to appropriate community and school based services

• Believe in ALL students

• Collaborate with teachers, administration, support staff, community members, and parents

• Presents classroom guidance lessons

• Mediate conflict

Does Not:

• Share a students' personal life with teachers

• Only work on career preparation and plans after high school

• Only meet with students when something bad happens

• In depth daily counseling

• Serve students' detention, suspension, and/or expulsion

• Punish students

• Tolerate or allow bullying to occur

• Judge students

• Hurt students' feelings

• Only pay attention to the "cool" students

• Share students' secrets with their peers

• Tell students what to do

• Work in isolation

• Decide what is best for students and their future

• Act as a substitute in your teachers absence