School Counselor FAQs
What is a School Counselor?
- A person who provides help and support to students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators
- A person who is a student advocate
- A person who helps students and parents explore resources
- A coordinator
- A group facilitator
- A consultant
- A teacher
- A case manager
What Does a School Counselor Do?
- Promotes positive learning experiences for our students
- Supports students in reaching their highest academic potential
- Helps identify student strengths and areas of need
- Supports students with organization and study skills
- Consults with teachers to promote students’ academic success
- Provides social and emotional support to students in groups and individually
- Encourages better interpersonal relationships
- Assists students in mediating differences
- Promotes positive attitudes and choices
- Assists students with growing up process
- Assists families in making use of community resources
- Aids teachers and parents in helping students
- Reviews assessment results to provide information about abilities, needs, achievement and interests
- Coordinates efforts with other school agencies
- Coordinates referrals to outside agencies
- Facilitates discussion groups
- Supports students in career and vocational exploration
- Provides guidance to students in developing academic plans and making course selection
What is the Purpose of Individual Counseling, Group Meetings, and Classroom Guidance?
- To help students develop self understanding and self awareness
- To build self confidence and self esteem
- To encourage students to recognize and make the best use of their capabilities
- To provide opportunities for students to feel successful
- To give students opportunities to talk about educational and personal/social concerns
- To provide students opportunities to learn positive lessons from each other
- To encourage students to recognize, understand, and work through learning or interpersonal difficulties
- To help students better adjust to school and home environments
- To develop students’ awareness of the world of work
- To teach students the decision making/problem solving process
- To teach students assertiveness/advocacy skills
- To help students think about options for post secondary education
- To help students apply to colleges or to apply for jobs
- To keep students informed about employment trends
How does a Student Get Scheduled for a Counselor Appointment?
- Self-referral (sign up in the counseling office or see the counselor at lunchtime or in the hallway)
- Parent request
- Teacher request
- Administrative request/referral
- Counselor initiated