What does a school counselor do?
A school counselor DOES:
- Work with ALL students to encourage a safe school climate of trust and respect.
- Deliver classroom guidance lessons that align to American School Counseling Association standards.
- Facilitate small groups.
- Meet individually with students to do brief, solution-focused counseling.
- Help students who are struggling to make positive behavior choices.
- Collaborate with parents/guardians, teachers, support staff, and administration.
- Maintain confidentiality of students and their families unless there is a need to know or a safety concern.
- Provide education and information about students' social-emotional needs.
A school counselor DOES NOT:
- Work with only special education students, regular education students, or "problem" students.
- Assign grades after lessons or teach academic subjects.
- Facilitate therapy groups.
- Meet individually with students to do long-term mental health counseling/therapy.
- Handle the discipline or assign consequences.
- Collaborate with only one person. A team approach including the school counselor works best.
- Share information about students and their families to appease the curiosity of others.
- Tell teachers how to teach in their classrooms or tell parents how to parent at home.
At China Spring Elementary, the counseling department is guided by The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs.
