The Role of School Counselors in Students' Lives School counselors do a variety of tasks to help students. They assist in the decision making process. These decisions affect the academic and personal lives of the students. Thus, counselors play an important role in students lives. Counselors work as part of a team with teachers, nurses, administrators, and other psychologists or psychiatrists to resolved student's learning and/or behavior problems. They also, if the job entails, evaluate the effectiveness of progams and procedures. School counselors work in all types and levels of schooling. This includes both private and public elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, colleges, and universities. Counselors who work in junior and senior high schools mainly help students decide what they will do after high school. They also make information readily available to students. Counselors working in elementary schools deal mainly with students who have learning and/or behavior problems. College counselors help students with a variety of issues. They help students plan and further their college education. They make information and other valuable resources available to students. Counselors offer guidance, both academic and personal, to students. They often teach college classes, in addition to counseling. Educational requirements vary by state and change quite often. Most states require certification which needs a master's degree in a related field such as counseling, psychology, education, or social work. A one year internship might be required in some states. Advancement possibilities are limited due to the fact that school counselors are already at the top of their profession. Some may become the coordinator for their school in a specialized area of expertise. They may become administrators or get supervisory positions. School counselors are qualified, if desired, to work in other areas such as a mental health department, in a probation department, a juvenile detention center, a half-way house, as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor, or as a teacher of any grade level with about six months additional schooling. Depending on the type of degree a counselor has, the typesof work environments they are qualified for is a variety of many settings. Counselors face considerable competition for jobs which is likely to increase due to the expected decline in the overall number of jobs for school counselors. Full-time counselors work longer than teachers do. Some counselors work only part-time or counsel part-time and teach.
The responsibilities of a professional school counselor are to design and deliver comprehensive programs to promote student achievement. The guidelines
I received the pleasure of interviewing two school counselors, Mrs. Jean Harmon and Mr. Devon Herrick. I was excited about interviewing school counselors within the Chicago land area. Despite many negativities spoken about the Chicago Public School (CPS) system, I desire to work within CPS. I’ve heard many pros and cons of working at a selective enrollment school, compared to a public charter school. By interviewing these two individuals, I assumed that I would get a snapshot of a potential work day for a school counselor. Mrs. Harmon is a school counselor at King College Preparatory high school. Mr. Herrick is a personal counselor at Urban Prep Charter Academy- Bronzeville campus. It was interesting in learning about the daily responsibilities,
Deciding to become a Student Guidance Counselor was not a fly by night decision. I did a great deal of reading and research before making a decision. I knew once I started a graduate program in School Guidance Counseling, it would be both challenging and a commitment until the end. I am somewhat nervous about this new journey that I am about to partake; however, I am ready to accept the challenge and make the commitment. I am a newly licensed teacher and there will be areas and terminology which I am not familiar. But, what I have found out thus far is that a teacher and a student counselor have quite a few things in common. They both work with other teachers, parents, school administrators, and the community in an academic setting. The skills I have acquired as a preschool director and teacher will be integrated into my career as a guidance counselor. I will have the skills to guide and enhance the social, academic, and personal growth of my students by using a variety of strategies which will be my primary goal. I will be able t...
During the past three years of college, my interest in counseling has been affirmed through a variety of experiences. One important experience that influenced my decision to pursue a career as a school counselor was my involvement in my community service sorority, Chi Delta Alpha. Through Chi Delta Alpha, I volunteered on several occasions, among them I babysat children to provide parents with a night off; I was responsible for a group of elementary students as they experienced college classes and I painted a caboose for a local playground. A theme that has remained constant throughout all my different experiences is that making a difference in a person’s life is a rewarding experience, and I know that I desire a career that enables me to support high school students as they face difficult situations.
High school counselors advise students on an assortment of topics. Counselors help from advising students about colleges and requirements to helping students deal with social, behavioral and personal problems. School counselors do not always interact with students individually; they will also work with small groups of students or even an entire class, depending on the topic. According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), high school is a time for students to transition into adulthood and the work of work, begin separating from their parents, and exploring and defining their independence. They need guidance in making concrete and compounded decisions. This is where school counselors come in to help these students guide them with information.
An addiction counselor is a support system for someone that is having problems with drug and alcohol problems, eating disorders and other addictive problems they are having. They teach people how to modify their behaviors with the intention of a full recovery. One step at a time. One hour at a time. One day at a time. This talks about how the counselors are helping one step at a time, they are doing it one hour at a time, and they are doing it one day at a time, this is all helping the addicted person through it all. It is critical to have someone there for them at all times and addiction counselors provide this support that they need. After receiving the training one is able to enjoy this career with the great reward of helping others.
Vernon (2009) states that counseling mid-adolescent teens is found to be much easier than working with early adolescent teens. There are things that a developmentally savvy counselor need to take into consideration when planning assessments and interventions for teens in mid-adolescence. One of the things that a developmentally savvy counselor needs to take into consideration is that teens in mid-adolescence tend to be ambivalent towards how the way they feel. Since these teens are more mature than teens in early adolescents, they're more able to express and deal with their emotions so the school counselor shouldn't have any problems. Another consideration that a school counselor needs to keep in mind is that they have to make sure that they're sensitive to mid-adolescents and also the "excitement that many adolescents feel about making a significant transition that will involve a change in roles, relationships, routine, and assessment of self" (Vernon, 2009, p. 30). The developmentall savvy counselor also needs to take into consideration is mid-adolescence thinking due to the fact that they tend to struggle with making choices even though their cognitive abilities is
American School Counselor Association. (2012). The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, Third Edition. Alexandria, VA: Author.
Counselors are open-minded and do not pass judgment verbally or physically at anytime while assisting students. Prejudging minimizes responses from distressed or problematic students. Giving advice and assistance should not be based on counselors’ personal opinion. Good counselors will refrain from bias and therefore communicate effective skills to empower students. Counselor should become listeners, observers, and advisers.
I cannot recall a more rewarding experience than helping facilitate a child’s education while enabling parent participation alike. These experiences have drawn me to my current position as an Educational Assistant where I am constantly interacting and establishing relationships with students, learning about their goals and aspirations. It is that same desire to empower our future students that has steered me towards a career as a school counselor. By enrolling in the Masters in counseling program, I aspire to develop methods and experience to become an effective, experienced, and adaptable school counselor that promotes self-awareness, allowing students to realize their full potential and impetus them towards a promising future. I want to learn skills that facilitate personal and career development, ensuring that our students grow accomplishing their goals and ambitions. To discover techniques that help students improve in all areas of academic achievement, establishing relationships with students and parents alike. By becoming a school counselor, I am determined to become an advocate for underserved youth. I aim to become an effective agent educational reform, providing support for students in the various institutions that may disempower
This paper will discuss the following 4 Core Functions of a Counselor: Case Management, Client Education, Crisis Intervention, Referral and their primary purposes.
Counselors have large shoes to fill. They not only administer assessments, but are also involved in group counseling, individual counseling, and have to plan and implement comprehensive school guidance programs. A counselor must know and be competent in all realms of their position. School counselors work with all children, including children with disabilities in various settings within the school (Villalba, Latus, Hamilton, & Kendrick (2005 p 449). As stated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school counseling services must be made available to all students in special education programs as part of their right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) (Bowen & Glenn, 1998; Clark, 1998). School counselors are to take on this role in the educational and personal-social well being of students in special education programs. Federal law does require that children, who receive special education services, and do not display appropriate behavior have a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) team (Villalba, Latus, Hamilton, & Kendrick (2005) p 449). This team constructs a BIP. Since counselors should be active on the FBA team, there is a need here that must be addressed because this article defines a lack of knowledge present with practicing counselors. With that, counselors do receive relevant training throughout their program. There are only so many classes and hours of instruction that the pre-counselors receive. The curriculum that is generated encompasses what counselors need, but could their be a few gaps and missing pieces? This study was conducted to determine counselors awareness, knowledge, and role in the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) process (Villalba, Latus, Hamilton, & Ken...
A counselor is defined as a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems. Professional counselors help to identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional or social interruptions. Counseling also improves communication, strengthens self-esteem, and promotes behavior change in relations to mental health. Counseling enables us to appreciate how we are in healthy relationships and safe environments due to some of the bad things others experience. Counseling helps clients understand and clarify their views on life and learn to reach their goals through making wise choices. In most counseling situations, the client is experiencing personal issues such as low self-esteem,
Seeking the services of a career counselor can provide many benefits. One can gain a deeper understanding of him/herself, gain information on education and careers, gain sills in decision-making, gain support in conducting a job search or applying to higher education, and gain support coping with career transitions (NCDA, “Why Seek Career Counseling, 2007). How a career counselor provides services depends on his or her theoretical approach to career counseling.
A guidance counselor is an important element in the formation of post high school plans. Counselors offer an outlet of information that should be used by all students. There are numerous ways for the counselor to approach post high school planning.