the

School Counselor

Carrie Frederickhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carriefrederick

Philosophy on School CounselingThe school counselor is a partner within the school to first and foremost enhance each student’s educational experience and personal development. This is achieved through:• Individual, small group, and classroom interactions between the school counselor and students• Collaboration between the school counselor and teachers to observe and meet unique student

needs• Working with all school personnel to assess and address student needs• Forecasting potential problems and devising preventative plans of action• Communication with parents/guardians about programs available and developments with students• Engaging students in an enthusiastic, understanding, and safe environment where they feel

valued and know their concerns are heard

Roles of the School Counselor

• Advocates in the best interest of students• Provides counseling to students in academic, career, and

personal/social domains• Provides classroom guidance lessons in academic, career, and

personal/social domains• Collaborates with teachers, school personnel, and

parents/guardians to support students• Analyzes data to implement and improve programs

Advocating for Students• The counseling office is a judgement-free safe space where students can speak about

and receive support for any issues• Development of Peer Helping programs to address specific needs within the school • Collaborating with school personnel to ensure students are placed correctly

academically and receiving the proper support to succeed• Partnering with community organizations to provide extended services (mental

health counseling, substance abuse counseling, etc.)• Ensuring students have access to information on career development and

understand how to achieve their goals• Provide lessons and resources to aid students in their academic, career, and

personal/social development

Community Collaboration• Check in regularly with principal, teachers, parents/guardians, and

other school personnel to gather information pertinent to the counseling office

• Share information on counseling programs with school personnel and parents/guardians

• Reach out to parents/guardians with concerns and progress reports• Involve community organizations • Build a culture of community where the counseling office is viewed

as a resource for the entire school

Scope of School CounselingThe programs created by school counselors use data to address many issues for the individual students and the school at large. Some of the areas covered by counselors :• Improve or enhance academic performance for all students• Prevent or stop bullying, substance abuse, or other negative behaviors• Help students with mental health issues• Support minority students and deliver culturally competent counseling• Ensure the counseling office supports the goals of the school• Make and keep the school a safe environment for everyone• Advocate for students, including advocating for proper resources for schools

the School CounselorSchool counselors impact the entire school community through their interactions with students, teachers, parents/guardians, and other school personnel. They must be able to take a big picture view of how their role can have the most positive impact while remaining in the best interests of the students. The strength of the school counselor is their ability to understand how each role intersects and that all of these together help students succeed.