What is the Role of a School Counselor?

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR?

The comprehensive school counseling program integrates academic, career, and 
personal/social development and focuses on issues relevant to all students. 
Counseling, consultation, collaboration, coordination, case management, 
guidance curriculum, and program evaluation are the primary delivery methods 
in an effective counseling program.

COUNSELING

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

The counselor conducts a personal and private interaction with a student in 
which they work together on a program or topic of interest. A face-to-face, 
one-on-one meeting with the counselor provides a student maximum privacy in 
which to freely explore ideas, feelings, and behaviors. School counselors 
exhibit trust and disseminate information, always respecting the rights, 
integrity, and welfare of students.

Counselors are obligated by law and ethical standards to report and to refer 
a case when a person's welfare is in jeopardy. It is a counselor's duty to 
inform an individual of the conditions and limitations under which 
assistance may be provided.

SMALL GROUP COUNSELING

In small group counseling a counselor works with two or more students 
together. Group size generally ranges from five to eight members. Group 
discussions may be relatively unstructured or may be based on structured 
learning activities. Group members have an opportunity to learn from each 
other. They can share ideas, give and receive feedback, increase their 
awareness, gain new knowledge, practice skills, and think about their goals 
and actions. Group discussions may be problem-centered, where attention is 
given to particular concerns or problems. Discussions may be growth-
centered, where general topics are related to personal and academic 
development.

LARGE GROUP COUNSELING

Large group work involves cooperative learning methods, in which the larger 
group may be divided into smaller working groups under the supervision of a 
counselor and teacher. The school counseling curriculum, composed of 
organized objectives and activities, is delivered by counselors and teachers 
in classrooms or advisory groups. Counselors develop and present special 
guidance units which give attention to particular developmental issues or 
areas of concern in their respective schools. They may partner with teachers 
and other members of the school community to deliver part of the school 
counseling curriculum, frequently making cross-curricular connections.

CRISIS INTERVENTION

The school counselor along with other support personnel addresses the 
specific concerns of students at-risk or with identified needs. This 
component of the counseling program is delivered in individual, large and 
small group counseling sessions, and may include consultation with parents 
and/or teachers.

CONSULTATION

The counselor as a consultant primarily helps parents and teachers to be 
more effective in working with others. Consultation helps parents and 
teachers think through problems and concerns, acquire more knowledge and 
skills, and become more objective and self-confident. This intervention can 
take place in individual or group conferences, through staff-development 
activities, or parent educational workshops. The consultation provides 
information and skills to parents/guardians, teachers, and the community to 
assist them in helping students in academic, career, and personal/social 
development.

PROGRAM EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The counselor continually assesses the needs of students and staff, 
evaluates programs, and makes changes in the school counseling program to 
better meet the current, identified needs of students.

COORDINATION

The counselor serves as a liaison between teachers, parents/guardians, 
support personnel, and community resources to facilitate successful student 
development. As student advocates, school counselors seek equitable access 
to programs and services for all students.

CASE MANAGEMENT

The counselor provides developmentally appropriate information, knowledge, 
and skills to promote student success in academic, career, personal/social 
areas. The School Counseling Essential Curriculum enables all students to 
reach their full potential.

http://www.hcpss.org/aboutus/counseling/counselor.shtml