School Counselors:
What and Why?
Nauveen Dubash
MS/M Phil Clinical & Counselling Psychology
Institute of Psychology
Beaconhouse National University
WHAT: THE ROLE OF STUDENT COUNSELORS
• School counselors are certified/licensed educators
with a minimum of a master’s degree in school
counseling.
• They are vital members of the education team.
Through collaborative efforts with the teachers,
parents & school administration, they help all students
in the areas of
i.
Academic achievement
ii. Personal/social development and
iii. Career development
What Do School Counselors Do?
i.
Individual & group counseling and advisement
e.g., Resolve conflicts, identity development,
specific student concerns (adjustment, social class,
substance use, poor grades, peer pressure, etc.)
ii. Consultation—working with administrators,
teachers, and staff to meet student needs
e.g., Educate the staff about various student issues
(suicide and loss)
iii. Supporting students and their families in case of
personal problems where the issues start affecting
their academics, interpersonal relationships with
peers, family and others.
iv. Classroom observations on behaviors, relationships
and providing feedback to teacher, students,
parents, staff.
v. Work with school staff and administration to
implement school safety and improvement
programs.
vi. Provide information and guidance on postsecondary options for training and careers as well
as for financial assistance for further education.
• For this they collaborate with teachers and community
partners to ensure that student transitions to
postsecondary education and the workplace with
essential knowledge, attitudes and skills for success
• Therefore, School counselling plays an important role
in supporting the personal, social and intellectual
development of each student.
• According to studies conducted in Georgia in 1997,
school counselors
a. impact students’ academic performance
b. can increase the on-task,
c. Increase productive behavior of students and reduce
disruptive behaviors.
WHY DO WE NEED STUDENT COUNSELORS ?
• Secondary School is the final transition into adulthood
and the world of work as students begin separating
from parents and exploring and defining their
independence
• During these adolescent years, students are evaluating
their strengths, skills and abilities.
• Adolescents face unique and diverse challenges, both
personally and developmentally, that impact academic
achievement .
Common areas where Secondary school Students need
counseling :
i)
Changes associated with puberty and adjustment.
ii) Peer Pressure & Bullying (victim & perpetrators).
iii) Risky behaviors (smoking, alcohol)
iv) Sex Education
v) Adjustment issues
vi) Low self-esteem (withdrawn, lonely)
vii) Attention & Concentration problems (social networks,
cell phones)
viii) Terrorism
ix. Low academic achievement (poor grades)
x.
Conflicts with peers and teachers
xi. Aggressive, argumentative or defiant behavior.
xii. Personal problems (parental conflicts, divorce, dominating
parenting styles, financial problems, relationship issues,
bereavement or loss etc.)
xiii. Exam anxiety
xiv. Most importantly, academic pressures as they face high-
stakes testing, the challenges of college admissions, the
scholarship and financial aid application process and
entrance into a competitive job market.
Secondary School Counselors Implement the Counseling
Program by Providing:
i.
Learning, study and test-taking skills
ii. Post-secondary planning and application process
iii. Career planning
iv. Coping strategies
v. Peer relationships and effective social skills
vi. Communication, problem-solving, decision-making,
conflict resolution and study skills
vi. Substance abuse education
vii. Goal setting, academic plans, transition plans
viii. Individual and small-group counseling
ix. Individual/family/school crisis intervention
x. Consultation/collaboration
xi. Referrals
Conclusion
School counseling programs are essential for students
to
i) achieve optimal personal growth,
ii) acquire positive social skills and values,
iii) set appropriate career goals and
iv) realize full academic potential
to become productive, contributing members of the
world community.
Secondary School Counselors Collaborate with:
a) Parents
i. Academic planning/support
ii. Post-secondary planning
iii. School-to-parent communications
iv. One-on-one parent conferencing
b) Students
i. Academic support
ii. Peer education program
iii. Crisis management
iv. Transition programs
c) Teachers
i. Classroom guidance lessons on post-secondary
planning, study skills etc.
ii. Academic support and education to help students
succeed academically
iii. At-risk student identification and implementation of
interventions to enhance success
d) Administrators
i. School climate
ii. Academic support interventions
iii. Behavioral management plans/positive discipline
plans
Benefits for Students
i. Introduces them to their personal traits, interests,
skills and aptitude.
ii. Helps them choose their careers according to their
personality and lifestyle.
iii. Trains them to be successful in their educational and
professional careers.
iv. Provides them with training in personality
development.
iv. Enhances their interview and live communication
skills.
v. Makes them learn time management skills.
vi. Provides them with necessary help to make a
realistic educational plan.
Benefits for Teachers
i.
Counseling services for teachers (relaxation)
ii. Sharing the workload (as teachers already have too
much on their plate)
iii. Improving & managing classroom environment.
iv. Communication with parents.
Benefits for Schools
i.
Turnaround in the school's internal and board
results.
ii. Improvement in the public image of the school
iii. Helps the school make a realistic educational plan
iv. Increases the strength of students.