School Counseling Overview, Programs, and Services
1. Role of School Counselor
The primary role of the school counselor is to develop and implement a school counseling program that will support students’ academic,
personal/social, and career development. We know that when students are dealing with social and emotional problems, their learning is significantly
hindered.
2. Counseling and Responsive Services
a. Individual and Small Group – The students and counselor may discuss issues of self-esteem, getting along with others, character education, bullying awareness and prevention, respecting others, anger management, friendships, and other personal, social, and emotional concerns.
b. Peer Mediation – The focus is on conflict resolution and problem solving, in which many times students are able to figure out the problems and
solutions for themselves.
c. Classroom and Group Lessons – The topics of discussion may include character education, relationship building, getting along with others, career
development, transitioning to middle school, test taking skills, etc.
3. Consultation Services
a. Parent/Teacher Conferences – The counselor is available to consult with parents and teachers individually or will sit in on parent and teacher
conferences as requested.
b. Section 504 – The counselor serves as the Section 504 Chair. Section 504 is a program that can provide
accommodations for students with disabilities that may help them overcome their disability while receiving the same education as their peers in a
general education classroom environment.
c. Student Support Team (SST Tier 3) - The School Counselor participates in SST Tier 3 meetings as needed. Whenever a teacher identifies
an academic, speech, or behavioral concern in the classroom, a group of people known as the Student Support Team will come together to discuss
strategies/interventions to improve the student’s performance.
d. School Social Worker and DFACS –The counselor works very closely with the School Social Worker and DFACS to address concerns over abuse and
neglect allegations or suspicions. As a mandated reporter, this means that she is required by law to report such claims to the Department of Family
and Children Services (DFACS).
e. Wraparound Services - The School Counselor works very closely with outside mental health providers such as Family Ties and school-based
community service organizations such as Communities in Schools to assist families with much needed resources.
4. School Counseling Programs and Services
5. Referrals
Students may see the School Counselor when a referral is received in one of the following ways:
o Teacher or staff referral
o Student Self-referral
o Counselor request
o Parent request
o Administrative referral
o Referral by friend(s)
1. Role of School Counselor
The primary role of the school counselor is to develop and implement a school counseling program that will support students’ academic,
personal/social, and career development. We know that when students are dealing with social and emotional problems, their learning is significantly
hindered.
2. Counseling and Responsive Services
a. Individual and Small Group – The students and counselor may discuss issues of self-esteem, getting along with others, character education, bullying awareness and prevention, respecting others, anger management, friendships, and other personal, social, and emotional concerns.
b. Peer Mediation – The focus is on conflict resolution and problem solving, in which many times students are able to figure out the problems and
solutions for themselves.
c. Classroom and Group Lessons – The topics of discussion may include character education, relationship building, getting along with others, career
development, transitioning to middle school, test taking skills, etc.
3. Consultation Services
a. Parent/Teacher Conferences – The counselor is available to consult with parents and teachers individually or will sit in on parent and teacher
conferences as requested.
b. Section 504 – The counselor serves as the Section 504 Chair. Section 504 is a program that can provide
accommodations for students with disabilities that may help them overcome their disability while receiving the same education as their peers in a
general education classroom environment.
c. Student Support Team (SST Tier 3) - The School Counselor participates in SST Tier 3 meetings as needed. Whenever a teacher identifies
an academic, speech, or behavioral concern in the classroom, a group of people known as the Student Support Team will come together to discuss
strategies/interventions to improve the student’s performance.
d. School Social Worker and DFACS –The counselor works very closely with the School Social Worker and DFACS to address concerns over abuse and
neglect allegations or suspicions. As a mandated reporter, this means that she is required by law to report such claims to the Department of Family
and Children Services (DFACS).
e. Wraparound Services - The School Counselor works very closely with outside mental health providers such as Family Ties and school-based
community service organizations such as Communities in Schools to assist families with much needed resources.
4. School Counseling Programs and Services
- Classroom Lessons
- Group Lessons
- Individual Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Peer Mediation
- Section 504 Management
- SST Tier 3 Support
- Parent and Teacher Consultations
- Parent and Family Engagement Facilitation
- Leader in Me Support
- Perfect Attendance Program
- Parent of the Month Program
- Parent Academy Workshops
- College and Career Day
- Transitional Activities Coordination
- Red Ribbon Week for Drug and Bullying Awareness
- Fundraiser and Charitable Programs
5. Referrals
Students may see the School Counselor when a referral is received in one of the following ways:
o Teacher or staff referral
o Student Self-referral
o Counselor request
o Parent request
o Administrative referral
o Referral by friend(s)