What We Do:
- Instruction – teaching the school counseling curriculum to students focused through the lens of selected student standards from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success (2019).
- Appraisal and advisement – assessing student abilities, interests and achievement to help them make decisions about their future.
- Counseling – providing professional assistance and support to a student or small group of students during times of transition, heightened stress, critical change or other situations impeding student success. School counselors do not provide therapy or long-term counseling in schools; however, school counselors are prepared to recognize and respond to student mental health needs and to assist students and families seeking resources.
- Consultation – share strategies supporting student achievement with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations
- Collaboration – work with other educators, parents and the community to support student achievement
- Referrals – support for students and families to school or community resources for additional assistance and information.
The ASCA Student Standards (2019) can be applied to three broad domains: academic, career and social/emotional development. These domains promote mindsets and behaviors that enhance the learning process and create a culture of college, career and life readiness for every student. The domain definitions are as follows:
- Academic Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to implement strategies and activities to support and maximize each student’s ability to learn.
- Career Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to help students 1) understand the connection between school and the world of work and 2) plan for and make a successful transition from school to postsecondary education and/ or the world of work and from job to job across the lifespan.
- Social/Emotional Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to help students manage emotions and learn and apply interpersonal skills.
Typical topics of instruction, appraisal, advisement, and counseling:
- Learning Strategies: Time-management, organizational skills, study skills, self-motivation, decision making, goal setting, student engagement, perspectives, etc
- Self-Management Skills: Responsibility, self discipline, delayed gratification, perseverance, resilience, coping skills, personal safety, balancing activities, managing transitions, etc
- Social Skills: Communication skills, relationships to others, empathy, social responsibility, collaboration skills, leadership, advocacy for self and others, social maturity, cultural awareness, etc
Common examples of when students/families reach out to a counselor:
A student:
- Needs help with personal, academic, or career goals
- Is struggling academically
- Wants guidance on planning high school classes
- Wants to change a schedule
- Has a hard time coming to school every day
- Has a physical need: food, feminine hygiene products, etc
- Has a medical condition that is interfering with school performance
- Has questions or concerns about his/her existing 504 plan
- Is experiencing homelessness
- Needs help managing a transition
- Is experiencing abuse of any kind
- Is struggling emotionally
- Wants to harm someone
- Needs a referral to a therapist
- Is experiencing bullying
- Needs help resolving a conflict
- Needs someone to listen or a safe space to experience emotions
- Has a safety concern of any kind
- Is suicidal
- Needs help with college planning & applying to colleges including FAFSA, residency, CFNC, transcripts, etc
- Needs their GPA, number of credits earned, graduation status, or other cumulative information
- Wants information regarding armed forces recruitment opportunities
- Needs help with career planning
- A general link to help and resources
Resources:
The Role of the School Counselor: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/ee8b2e1b-d021-4575-982c-c84402cb2cd2/Role-Statement.pdf
The Essential Role of High School Counselors: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/2a38ea99-5595-4e6d-b9af-2ac3a00fa8c3/Why-High-School.pdf
ASCA Student Standards: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/7428a787-a452-4abb-afec-d78ec77870cd/Mindsets-Behaviors.pdf
Why we say “School”, not “Guidance” Counselor: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/c8d97962-905f-4a33-958b-744a770d71c6/Guidance-Counselor-vs-School-Counselor.pdf