Mga spotlight
Guidance Counselor, School Psychologist, Student Support Specialist, School Social Worker, School Therapist, Education Counselor, Academic Advisor, Student Success Coach, College and Career Counselor, School Behavioral Specialist, Youth Counselor, Student Advocate, School Interventionist, Mental Health Counselor, School Wellness Coordinator, Mental Health Therapist
K-12 students spend years at school facing situations and challenges that affect their behavior and influence their goals. Sometimes it’s hard to navigate within these school systems, even with teachers there to help. That’s why schools at all levels employ in-house School Counselors!
The role of counselors varies considerably between grade levels, and some counselors focus on certain areas such as academic advising or career coaching. But in general, School Counselors offer wide-ranging support that includes:
- Personal support to help students determine their interests and abilities;
- Career advising, to help students discover and explore career pathways;
- Academic planning support to help students select classes and activities that will help them reach their goals, and;
- Behavioral support for social and soft skills development.
No matter which areas they focus on, all School Counselors are there to help students do well in school – and prepare them for success in the next chapter of their lives!
- Helping students set and reach personal, academic, and career goals
- Collaborating with educators and parents to support student success
- Opportunities to work with diverse student populations
Oras ng trabaho
School Counselors typically work full-time when school is in session. They may get part or all of their summers off, depending on the school’s needs.
Mga Karaniwang Tungkulin
- Help students understand their interests and aptitudes via tests and interviews
- As Kent ISD writes, “Career interest inventories are testing instruments designed to help students learn more about themselves, as well as identify careers that would be a good fit based on their interests. The results of the assessments guide students in discovering more about themselves, as well as occupations that best fit them.”
- Show students how to explore viable career options
- Explain career planning and how education and training tie into it
- Review the role of colleges and college degrees in career preparation
- Advise students on suitable courses that will help them achieve educational and career goals
- Help students understand graduation requirements
- Assist students who are struggling with academic, behavioral, or social challenges
- Devise study strategies to help students get back on track and stay on track
- Provide information about additional resources that may benefit students
- Offer individual and group counseling sessions
- Discuss factors that could negatively impact success in school such as skipping or failing classes
- Educate students and staff about common school issues such as bullying prevention and substance abuse
- Advise students about standardized tests used for college applications (such as the SAT)
- Provide information about how to apply to college, federal financial aid and scholarship options, and the importance of extracurricular activities
- Collaborate effectively with families, teachers, and administrators to provide comprehensive support for students with special needs or unique circumstances
- Review transcripts and track student progress over time and adjust strategies as needed
- Report signs of possible neglect or abuse to appropriate agencies
- Suggest special evaluations to families, teachers, or administrators when warranted, such as special education testing or gifted and talented assessments
Mga Karagdagang Pananagutan
- Conduct classroom observations
- Draft school-wide policies and procedures related to counseling actions
- Advocate for students’ needs
- Maintain databases and protect private information
- Meet with parents, legal guardians, or other child caretakers to discuss critical issues
- Develop resources and materials to share with families
- Participate in ongoing professional development and training
- Stay updated on educational trends and opportunities
Soft Skills
- Aktibong pakikinig
- Kakayahang umangkop
- Advocacy
- Pakikipagtulungan
- Komunikasyon
- Pagiging kompidensyal
- Empatiya
- Mga kasanayan sa interpersonal
- Pamamahala
- Negosasyon
- Organisasyon
- pasensya
- Pagtitiyaga
- Pagtugon sa suliranin
- Social perceptiveness
- Pagtutulungan ng magkakasama
- Pamamahala ng oras
Teknikal na kasanayan
- Academic planning resources, such as interest inventories, career pathway worksheets, course selection guides, and online career-planning resources (like Gladeo)
- Advising sessions to plan out coursework and future academic goals
- ASCA National Model framework
- Counseling techniques
- Crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and de-escalation techniques
- Data collection and analysis methods and programs
- Diagnostic assessments such as reading and math tests
- Educational assessment tools such as standardized tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT, GRE)
- Program development and evaluation
- Rubrics/scoring guides to assess work based on pre-established criteria
- Scholarship processes, including how to use databases, application preparation and submission, interview practice, and award acceptance
- Student progress tracking and outcome evaluation
- Special needs programs and requirements
- Public and private K-12 schools
- Mga paaralang charter
- Mga kolehiyong pangkomunidad
- 4-year colleges and universities
- Vocational and trade schools
School Counselors play a crucial role in shaping students’ futures. Their work often makes a lasting impact on the lives of young people, which in turn can affect future generations, too.
Counselors are expected to provide comprehensive support, helping learners identify and overcome academic and personal challenges. The role demands attention, empathy, patience, and persistence, especially when there are setbacks or other obstacles. They’ve also got to be ready to deal with pushback from students and prepared to tackle sensitive subjects.
In some cases, intervention techniques might be necessary to help struggling students so they can improve their odds of success. The job can be emotionally demanding at times, but it’s always rewarding to help students work toward positive goals!
One critical trend is the shortage of qualified staff in our schools!
“Schools are experiencing an ongoing nationwide school counselor shortage. Forty-eight states are above the recommended students to school counselor ratio of 250:1,” according to the National Education Association.
Another trend is the increased use of technology in education and student support. Online resources, virtual counseling sessions, and digital assessments are becoming more common, improving accessibility and helping to remove barriers to information.
There’s also a growing focus on mental health and wellness, with counselors playing a key role in supporting students’ emotional well-being. They’re not there to provide long-term therapy sessions, but, as the American School Counselor Association puts it, “School counselors advocate for the mental health needs of all students by offering instruction that enhances awareness of mental health, appraisal, and advisement addressing academic, career and social/emotional development; short-term counseling interventions; and referrals to community resources for long-term support.”
Many School Counselors experienced positive interactions with counselors themselves when they were younger, helping them recognize the importance of the position. Others just grew up with a passion for educational equity and wanted to find meaningful roles in the education system.
- School Counselors generally need a master’s degree in either school counseling or psychology with a focus on career development. Their undergraduate majors may include behavioral science, social science, psychology, or related fields.
- Public school counselors require state approval, via either a license, certification, or endorsement. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and National Board for Certified Counselors offer details for individual state requirements.
- As ASCA notes, “Counselors are licensed and credentialed by the state where they are employed. Typically, licensure requires documented school counseling education and coursework from an accredited college/university, completion of practicum and internship in a K-12 school, as well as passage of a state or national comprehensive test (e.g., Praxis).”
- Common master’s level courses include:
- Paglago at pag-unlad ng tao
- Mga teorya
- Indibidwal na pagpapayo
- Pagpapayo ng grupo
- Mga pundasyong panlipunan at pangkultura
- Pagsubok/pagsusuri
- Pananaliksik at pagsusuri ng programa
- Propesyonal na oryentasyon
- Pag-unlad ng karera
- Pinangangasiwaang practicum
- Pinangangasiwaang internship
- School Counselors are generally required to complete supervised internships or practicum experiences in a school setting. These experiences allow them to work directly with students under the guidance of a licensed counselor, focusing on developing skills in academic advising, career guidance, and social-emotional counseling.
- Fluency in Spanish or other languages besides English can be beneficial, depending on the school district’s demographics. Experience working with diverse populations is also beneficial.
School Counselors must also learn how to use various software programs to access, share, and track student information. - Kasama sa mga opsyonal na sertipikasyon ang:
- National Board for Certified Counselors - National Certified School Counselor
- National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certifications
- National Career Development Association - Certified Career Counselor Educator and Certified School Career Development Advisor
- For undergraduate schools, look for programs that are accredited and feature the rigorous foundational coursework you’ll need to succeed in graduate school.
- Master’s programs should focus on teaching counselors how to interpret and use data since school counseling programs are increasingly data and leadership-driven.
- Consider if the program teaches the ASCA national model, which uses “data-informed methods to quantify the impact school counselors have on student achievement and success.”
- School Counselors must complete supervised internships or practicum while in graduate school, so review where these experiences would take place (i.e., a local K-12 public school).
- Isaalang-alang ang mga gastos sa pagtuturo (mga rate sa loob ng estado/sa labas ng estado), mga diskwento, mga scholarship, at mga opsyon sa paghahatid ng kurso (sa campus, online, o hybrid na programa).
- Review faculty bios, their past work, accomplishments, awards, and current research. Also, peek at the accomplishments of the alumni network!
- Examine the program’s acceptance rates, graduation rates, and job placement stats.
- Participate in school activities where you can hone your soft skills and gain leadership experience.
- Sign up for classes in psychology, sociology, English, speech, writing, and foreign languages.
- Talk with your school’s counselor to ask for advice and mentorship.
- Volunteer to serve as a teacher’s aide.
- Tutor students who are younger or who may need extra support.
- Participate in school activities that allow you to hone your teamwork and communication skills.
- Read up about the ASCA model of counseling.
- Look for internship opportunities in your area to gain experience.
- Educate yourself about diverse student populations to understand their perspectives and struggles.
- Start drafting your resume early so you can keep track of your work and educational experiences and achievements.
- Read through sites and magazines that are dedicated to your profession, such as ASCA School Counselor Magazine.
- Plan ahead for your master’s by looking at requirements early!
Make sure the courses in your undergraduate major will allow you to meet all the prerequisites for both graduate school and a graduate-level counseling program (which may have additional, program-specific requirements). - Join psychology student organizations to make friends, learn, and stay motivated! Popular options include:
- American Psychological Association for graduate students
- Psi Chi, a college student honor society in psychology
- Keep a list of contacts (including phone numbers or emails) who might serve as future job references.
- Read, watch, or conduct informational interviews with School Counselors to learn about their daily duties.
- Learn about the specific licensure or certification requirements for the state you plan to work in.
- Stay out of trouble so you can pass a criminal background check if required.
- Develop a workout schedule so you can stay in shape and manage stress.
- Practice your interview skills before applying to graduate school.
- If your graduate school program requires it, study for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with prep books and online prep courses and materials.
- Review ASCA’s Standards for School Counselor Preparation Programs, Educator Ethical Standards, and State Requirements & Programs.
- Sign up for alerts on job portals such as Indeed, Simply Hired, Glassdoor, Zippia, and EdJoin.org.
- Take note of keywords used in job postings, such as:
- Academic Advising
- Behavioral Interventions
- Career Counseling
- Conflict Resolution
- Crisis Management
- Emotional Support
- Group Therapy
- Individual Counseling
- Parent Collaboration
- Student Advocacy
- If doing an internship, inquire about the possibility of it turning into full-time employment.
- Consider moving to towns or cities where there are more opportunities.
- Ask your college’s career center for assistance with resume writing and job placement.
- Let your network know you’re looking for work!
- Put together a counseling portfolio showcasing data and highlights of your achievements.
- Check out School Counselor sample resumes and review School Counselor interview questions to prepare for interviews.
- Impress interview panels with your knowledge and insights into diversity issues impacting the profession.
- Brush up on your terminology!
- Be ready to explain specifically why you want to work as a school counselor, and how you plan to instill student leadership and support equality and inclusion.
- Before giving out their contact info, reach out to supervisors, professors, and others who can serve as personal references.
- Run through several mock interviews with a friend to practice your responses.
- Dress professionally for interviews.
- Talk with your supervisor about career advancement opportunities.
- Improve your skills through further education such as a new certification, a second master’s, or a PhD.
- Read industry publications to stay current on trends.
- Master the various software programs used in the profession, like SCUTA and Canvas.
- Stay active in professional organizations like the American School Counselor Association.
- Participate in school and district groups and committees.
- Stay calm under pressure and practice good self-care habits.
- Build good rapport with students and earn their trust.
- Collaborate effectively with other school staff members and leadership.
- Listen to feedback to identify areas for improvement.
- Take on challenging projects that demonstrate your ability to handle complex tasks.
- Consider relocating or switching employers if necessary to achieve career goals.
Mga website
- American College Counseling Association
- American Counseling Association
- American Psychological Association
- American School Counselor Association
- Asosasyon para sa Karera at Teknikal na Edukasyon
- Association on Higher Education and Disability
- NACADA
- NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
- National Association for College Admission Counseling
- Pambansang Samahan ng mga Kolehiyo at Employer
- National Association of School Psychologists
- Pambansang Samahan ng mga Manggagawang Panlipunan
- Pambansang Lupon para sa Mga Sertipikadong Tagapayo
- National Career Development Association
- National Education Association
- NBCC Visions newsletter
- The Professional Counselor
- Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professionals
Mga journal
- Clinician’s Research Digest: Child and Adolescent Populations
- Educational Psychology for Policy and Practice
- Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice
- Journal of Diversity in Higher Education
- Journal of Educational Psychology
Mga libro
- The American School Counselor Association has numerous titles available, including:
- ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success
- Bullying and Cyberbullying: What Every Educator Needs to Know
- Career and College Readiness Counseling in P-12 Schools
- Ethical and Legal Issues in School Counseling
- School Counseling Principles: Ethics and Law
- The ASCA National Model Implementation Guide: Manage & Assess
- School Counselor Resource Series:
- Choice Theory: Using Choice Theory and Reality Therapy to Enhance Student Achievement and Responsibility
- Fostering Resilience & Strength
- Mastering Test Anxiety
- Skill Building for Postsecondary Success
- Teaching Mindsets & Behaviors Through Physical Activity
School Counselors play critical roles in student success, but like any job, there are pros and cons. It can be a challenge to work with students sometimes, requiring the right mix of patience, empathy, and encouragement. If a career in school counseling isn't the right fit, consider exploring these related fields:
- Community College Instructor
- Health Education Specialist
- High School Teacher
- Espesyalista sa Human Resources
- Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Tagapamagitan
- Kalusugan ng Kaisipan at Pang-aabuso sa Substance Social Worker
- Middle School Teacher
- Sikologo
- Tagapayo sa Rehabilitasyon
- Social Worker
- Guro sa Espesyal na Edukasyon
- Guro sa Espesyal na Edukasyon
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor
- Espesyalista sa Pagsasanay at Pag-unlad
- University Professor
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