Role of the School Counselor

As school counselors, we advocate for the whole child by supporting the academic, personal, social, and emotional development of each student. This is achieved by providing skill-based classroom guidance lessons, small group counseling, individual counseling services, and responsive services to ensure and enhance our students' ability to succeed throughout school, their career, and life.  The primary focus of the elementary counselor is prevention, and this is achieved by providing monthly guidance lessons, small group counseling, and individual counseling services that will help all students develop basic life skills that will aid in helping them have a successful school year!

Consultation & Collaboration

The school counselor consults and collaborates with teachers, parents and administrators to ensure the needs of all students are met. Since the goal is to teach students the skills and knowledge they need to have to manage whatever situations they find themselves in, a needs assessment is conducted each year to learn what those needs are. In addition, referrals can be made at any time by the parent, teacher, administrator, or the student themselves.  

Please keep in mind that psychotherapy/long term counseling is not a service school counselors are able to provide. The school counselor can provide direction and recommendations if parents choose to access additional outside support services as needed. 

Confidentiality 

It is important that students feel comfortable and safe about sharing their thoughts and feelings. Because of this, confidentiality is the basis for an effective counseling relationship. Confidentiality ensures that school counselors won’t share students’ disclosures with others, including, but not limited to, parents, teachers, administrators, and other students. Keep in mind that confidentiality will always be maintained with students unless 

1. their safety is threatened by someone, 

2. their safety is threatened by themselves, 

3. they are threatening someone else's safety, or 

4. they have given permission to share the information with another adult.