| 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
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