The school counseling and guidance program is a part of the total school program and complements learning in the classroom. The program encourages student’s social, emotional, and personal growth at each stage of their development.
The school counselor works directly with students in individual for helping with their concerns and group counseling sessions for students with specific needs, as well as, conducts classroom guidance lessons on personal, emotional, social, and educational development so students build positive feelings towards self and others, develop skills in interacting and communicating with others, identify and accept their own and others’ strengths and weaknesses, recognize the causes and effects of their actions, and become responsible and productive members of society.
The counselor also works cooperatively with administrators, teachers, and parents to serve the needs of students, to help all students succeed in school and to maximize their potentials.
Responsibilities:
Individual Counseling: both voluntary and referral (from teachers and parents)
- To help students to understand themselves and others.
- To use a strength-based approach for students to realize their potential and their strengths.
- To identify students with special needs and facilitate the appropriate intervention.
- To consider choices and consequences
- To set both short and long-term goals
- To begin the career awareness program.
Small Group Counseling:
- used with students experiencing shared concerns in areas such as interpersonal relationships, conflict resolutions, anger management and learning techniques.
Classroom Guidance Lessons: planning and leading special lessons on psycho-educational topics to introduce life skills that help students cope with life’s everyday happenings. Guidance topics explored include.
- Understanding self/ self-concept/ self-esteem
- Responsibility: encouraging good citizenship and promoting self-discipline.
- Friendship/ peer pressure
- Study skills
- Personal safety
- Decision making and problem solving skills
- Conflict management
- Managing and expressing feelings
- Cultural awareness (appreciation and acceptance of cultural differences)
- Bullying prevention
- Social skills
- Positive attitude
- Careers awareness
- Character building
The counselor also consults with teachers and other professionals on resource materials and ideas on processing referrals regarding concerns and special needs.
