What do School Counselors Do?

A school counselor helps all students

Apply academic achievement strategies
Manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills
Plan for postsecondary options (higher education, military, work force)

Appropriate duties include providing:

Individual student academic planning and goal setting
School counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards
Short-term counseling to students
Referrals for long-term support
Collaboration with families/teachers/administrators/community for student success
Advocacy for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings
Data analysis to identify student issues, needs and challenges

Confidentiality

As elementary school counselors, we ensure that every student and family understands and acknowledges the limits of confidentiality and professional working student- and family-counselor relationship.

What students share in their one-on-one counseling sessions is privileged information with the exception of information that signals a safety concern, such as a student shares they want to hurt themselves, they want to hurt someone else, or someone is hurting them.

The 4th reason to not keep information private is if the student gives permission to share with another trusting adult, whether it be someone at school or at home. With this consideration, it's important to note that counselors can share the skills and tools we've been using so that it can be reinforced at home and in the classroom. School Counseling is all about create safe spaces for kids to express themselves and grow.

MTMDSS Breakdown

Tier 1 Counseling Services

Services 100% of students at Bay Laurel
Includes, but is not limited to:
- Classroom Lessons
- School-wide Activities
- SEL and/or Career Fairs
- Minute Meetings

Tier 2 Counseling Services

Services approximately 20% of students at Bay Laurel
Includes, but is not limited to:
- Small Group Counseling
- Parent/Guardian Workshops
- Collaboration and consultation with families and staff

Tier 3 Counseling Services

Services approximately 5-10% of students at Bay Laurel
Includes, but is not limited to:
- Crisis Counseling
- Individual Counseling
- Referral to resources
- Referrals for assessment

Click image on the left to view the PDF version of the document

The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors

American School Counselor Association

Who are School Counselors?

American School Counselor Association

Guidance Counselor vs. School Counselor: Why the Title Matters

American School Counselor Association

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