Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Roles of a school counselor
Why become a school counselor
The importance of school counselors
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
School counseling has evolved over the years into a significant component of the educational system. School counselors are taking on new roles in schools as leaders, working with “school administration and staff in developing student attitudes and behavior which are necessary to maintain proper control, acceptable standards of self-discipline and a suitable learning environment within the school” (Secondary School Counselor 2012). Counselors work in “diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation, and support services” (Counselors, 2010). When working in a school district as a counselor, you can either be an elementary school counselor, middle school counselor or a high school counselor. This essays explores a recent interview with a high school counselor. 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. While interviewing the high school counselor of my choice Mr. Lee Ryland, this learner has learned that Mr. Ryland’s responsibilities as head school counselor i... ... middle of paper ... ...and then peer approval, trying to be accepted in a group. Having strong counselors is a good foundation for a school; these educators are here to help promote academic success. Works Cited Counselors. (2010). United States Department of Labor. Retrieved 2015, from Bureau of Labor Statistics website: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm Ekchian, V. K. (Ed.). (2010, December). Los Angeles Unified School District Policy Bulletin. Professional Growth Manual.(2013). Renew a professional clear credential. Retrieved from California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website: http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/resources/pg_manual_multsingsubj.pdf Secondary School Counselor. (2012). Los Angeles Unified School District. Retrieved from http://www.teachinla.com/research/class_descriptions/0533.pdf Ryland, L. (2015, February). Professional Counselor Interview.
Although there is value in group counseling at school, some of the problems that surface include scheduling issues, teacher resistance, and ethical concerns as well (Pérusse, 2009). Leading group counseling requires highly specialized skills (Pérusse, 2009). It is important for the counselors to have a solid foundation in group counseling theory and practice to be effective (Pérusse, 2009). As with individual counseling, counselors in this setting struggle with issues of confidentiality from parents wanting to know details of what was said but also with the issue of other students breaking confidentiality outside of group (Crespi, 2009).
Important individuals who provide information and support youth during this stage are parents, peers, and high school staff (i.e., teachers and counselors; Hossler & Gallagher, 1987). In high schools, guidance counselors, as will be elaborated later, have a particularly important role in students’ college choice. Finally, the choice stage occurs during the eleventh and twelfth grades and is when students select a postsecondary institution from among those considered.
In this paper, it will be explored the meaning behind the ASCA national model, its importance, and how it will shape the counselors to be. As a counselor in training, it was understood the ASCA national model is a guideline for professional school counselors to be more productive and sufficient in the workplace. Therefore, as a trainee it is vital to grasp and implement these four components: foundation, management system, delivery system, and accountability.
The school counseling department is linked with community agencies. Part of the counselor job description is to remain connected with the community agencies because parents rely on the counselor for addition resource for their child’s needs. The school is linked with the neighborhood social service agencies.
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...
As a school-counseling intern, I have grown tremendously through this experience of developing a relationship with and counseling Carlos. My personal challenges included my extensive background a...
... lost when it comes to school counseling duties, school systems, or programs that are allow to used in a school setting, but this article gave me a understanding of how programs can help school counselors on assisting students' needs. I believe that school counselors should advocate for their profession, even if it is hard to get support from administration that only believe that old ways should stay and no changes should be done. I truly believe that changes are beneficial because everything is evolving around you, so you must keep up to be updated.
School counselors have truly been a catalyst for change due to their role. The advocacy for students and working toward closing achievement gaps has been something that has put school counselors in a new leadership role. They are actively working to cultivate ways for all students to achieve and succeed in schools. This has removed counselors from the behind the scenes role performing administrative tasks and in turn made them a part of a collaborative leadership role. School counselors are now actively collaborating with teachers, administrators, community members, and parents to form a cohesive team to build a culture that advocates for success and positive change within the school. One of the biggest role changes that I feel is extremely beneficial is the collaborative relationship between principals and school counselors. School principals are responsible for student success within the school and if there is a healthy collaborative relationship, the school counselor and principal can support each other in a way that ultimately establishes an environment that is barrier free for students. I believe that today's school counselors address the needs of the whole child. We realize that our role is to support them academically in terms of achievement, but in order to do that we need to meet their needs as a human include things such as mental health, social needs, emotional concerns, and family life. In order for a school counselor to advocate for students success within the school we need to be prepared to provide services that meet all of the students needs. If we continue to do this I believe the field will continue to evolve and progress even further over
School counselors are in elementary, middle and high school settings. “School counselors are frequently involved with assessment activities in their work with students, parents, and teachers”(Hays, 2013, p.16). School counselors use a number of test to assess their their students. It is important for school counselors to become familiar with these test so that they can use them successfully in their own
Individuals’ perceptions of their life/worth have the power to control the goals that they can carry out and meet. Every day we are learning new things and everyone has his/her own unique ways of learning. My strong desire to help students with their academic, personal, and social needs make me a strong candidate as a school counselor. While completing my undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Program Administration I learned a great deal about myself. I have a passion for learning and want to share and express that love for learning with students. I feel that the Master of School Counseling program provides a direct path to my career goals of helping students to comprehend subject matter while learning to love learning as I do. Not only will
Huss, S., Bryant., & Mulet, S. (2008). Managing the Quagmire of Counseling in s School, Bringin the Parents Onboard. Professional School of Counseling, 11(6), 362,367.
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
The Professional School Counselor and Student Mental Health. (2009, January). School Counselor. Retrieved April 19, 2014, from http://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_StudentMentalHealth.pdf
Most students need motivation to learn. As a teacher, I plan to motivate students by praising and rewarding both good behavior and academic accomplishments. Students are more likely to participate in the classroom when they know that their opinions matter. I will conduct classroom discussions about events happening inside and outside of the school. This will allow my students to express their thoughts and feelings about current events or problems. Students also need to know that their teacher cares about them. I plan on being there for my students when needed. Counseling a troubled student is a small way that a teacher can have a positive impact on that student's life. For example, my tenth grade Biology teacher made it clear that we could talk to her about anything. That year, I had a personal problem and wanted an adult's advice. I confided in this teacher kn...