Career Counselor

What Does a School Counselor Do?

School Counselors can also be great supporters of prevention programs implemented in the school system. Some School Counselors may arrange and organize support groups during times of loss, drug and alcohol prevention programs, and even community involvement programs for students with varying needs. Each of these elements can provide well‑rounded and inclusive services to students in the school system.

• Student Resource for Emotional, School, or Interpersonal Conflict
• Assist Students with Problem Solving/Goal Planning
• Curriculum Planning
• College/Vocational Planning
• Behavior Intervention
• Organization of Drug/Alcohol Abuse Programs

School Psychologists can also be helpful resources for schools interested in providing support to their students. Some of the responsibilities of professionals in this field may intertwine with those of the School Counselor, but not completely mimic the services provided by counselors in this field.

• Psychological Testing
• Risk Factor Analyses
• Special Education/Assistive Services Planning
• Mental Health Support
• Program Evaluation/Efficacy Research

• Counseling Theory in School Counseling
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  As a student in School Counseling degree programs, it may be necessary for you to indulge in learning about particular theories for use with your students. This course can provide thorough information about counseling theories that center on the needs of youth and adolescents, as well as the assessment of youth in the school system. While in this course, you may also touch on developmental or cognitive theories that can affect students abilities to learn effectively.
  
  Theories regarding social interaction and emotional development may also be a part of this course, since these are factors that can directly impact student success in the school system.
• Multicultural Considerations for School Counselors
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  Having a deep understanding of counseling theories is only half the battle for School Counseling professionals. Since educational settings can be just as diverse as society as a whole, it can be important for training counselors to learn more about diversity and cultural differences among various groups. This course may provide insight into cultural norms of different societal groups, expectations and values, and family involvement in the educational process.
  
  School Counselors should have the ability to effectively reach children regardless of their heritage or culture.
• Assessment in Counseling and Education
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  In school systems all over the U.S., School Counselors may be expected to administer a wide variety of psychological and education-based assessments to help students receive all necessary services. This course can outline the basis for these examinations, as well as the scoring procedure and follow‑up recommendations for each one. These assessments can be used to determine whether or not students qualify for special education classes, supportive classroom services, or even advanced coursework in higher grade levels.
  
  As part of this courses requirements, students may be expected to differentiate between different assessment methods accurately.

When you think of a School Counselor, you may get an image of a person sitting in an office at a school, talking to students about issues they are having in the classroom. This could be an accurate depiction of what a School Counselor does in 1 scenario. However, there can actually be many different settings in which a School Counselor can flourish.

Professionals with experience in working with school‑aged children can be great resources during community planning, youth advocacy, and even educational planning at the state level.

• Educational Advocacy
• Law and Regulation Consultation
• State Curriculum Planning
• Private/Public Schools
• Child/Adolescent Mental Health Advocacy
• Community Planning

Salary of $62,990 on average per year and an anticipated growth of 13% over the next decade (BLS).

Since School Counselors can be found…