Planning the school counseling program to reflect the needs of the school and the individual students within it. The school counselor initiates and coordinates the guidance and counseling program, and helps provide guidance materials.
Counseling
The school counselor provides a helping relationship to students with educational, personal, social or career concerns. Groups of students who have similar concerns come together to share, listen, and resolve concerns.
Consulting
Counselors consult with parents, teachers and others to determine the most appropriate ways to help students. School counselors often refer students to public and private agencies or practitioners outside the school when their students needs might suggest service on a long-term basis.
Counselors assist with school wide programs that help schools in their educational mission. These programs include school-wide efforts that reach a specific group of students.
Student Appraisal and Assessment
Counselors use strategies to assist in this area such as: helping students plan. interpreting test data with teachers to make appropriate decisions about academic placement, and sharing occupational information with students.
Professional Development
Counselors must stay current in their profession through counselor development workshops, conferences and through web-based site support. Increasingly counselors must know about and use technology programs to help students in their information exploration and development.