Role of school Counsellors

Counselors Help You Cope

School counselors know how to listen and help. They’ll

take your problem seriously and work with you to find

a good solution. School counselors are trained to help 

with everything — and it doesn’t have to be just 

school stuff. A counselor can help you deal with the 

sadness when someone has died as well as advise 

you on taking the right classes to get into your dream 

college.

It takes a lot of training to be a school counselor. 

Most not only have college degrees but also master’s 

degrees, as well as special training and certification in 

counseling. One of the many good things about school

counselors is that they are up-to-date on all the top 

things that affect students, including any trends that 

might affect your school.

School counselors can give you all sorts of tips and 

support on solving problems and making good 

decisions. Chances are that whatever problem you 

have, your counselor has seen it before — and has 

lots of good advice on how to help you work through 

it. Counselors can give you tips on standing up for 

yourself if you’re being bullied, managing stress, 

talking to your parents, and dealing with anger and 

other difficult moods. Counselors also can advise you 

on problems you may have with a teacher, such as 

communication difficulties or questions over grades.

School counselors are plugged in to the rest of the 

school community and, in many cases, the outside 

community as well. So they can refer students to 

outside resources like substance abuse treatment 

centers, professional therapists, and even health 

clinics.

It can help to know the different types of support your

counselor offers — even if you don’t think you need it 

now. Some schools and school districts use their 

websites to explain what the counselor does and how 

to get a counseling appointment. You may find their 

services listed under headings like “student 

resources,” ” student services,” or “student 

counseling.”

Your school’s website may also explain the roles of 

other school staff members who can help students 

with problems or school issues. Depending on the size

of your school, these people may include school

psychologists, tutors, college or career counselors, 

and school nurses. The counselor’s role varies from 

school to school and district to district, so don’t 

assume your counselor provides the same services as

the counselor in a friend’s school.

How Do I See the Counselor?

You may have been assigned a counselor when you 

started the school year. Or your school may leave it 

up to you to go to the counseling office on your own. 

A counselor might also visit your class to talk about 

certain subjects and let you know when he or she is 

available. In some schools, teachers or school nurses 

refer students to counselors if they think there’s 

something the student needs to work through. 

Different schools have different policies on putting 

students in touch with counselors.

Your school’s website, administrator’s office, or a 

trusted teacher can also tell you how to contact the 

counselor for an appointment. In many schools, 

there’s a guidance secretary who coordinates 

appointments. Many counselors are willing to meet 

with students at times that fit into the student’s 

schedule — such as before or after school or during 

lunch.

It’s probably a good idea to visit your counselor and 

get to know him or her even if you don’t have a 

problem. This helps you feel comfortable with the 

counselor in case you ever do need to meet in a time 

of crisis. It’s usually easier to talk about a tough issue 

or a problem when you already feel comfortable with 

the counselor. Meeting your counselor when you’re 

not in the middle of a crisis also gives you a chance to

discuss such issues as what the counselor will keep 

confidential and how he or she works with a student 

to resolve a problem.

Student-Counselor Meetings

Counselors meet with students individually or in small 

groups. The most common setting for most students 

is a private meeting just between the student and the 

counselor. Most school counselors have offices where 

you can sit down and talk.

You don’t need to know exactly what’s bothering you 

when you talk with the school counselor. It’s 

perfectly OK just to make an appointment because 

you’re feeling bad or not doing as well in school as 

you’d like. It’s the school counselor’s job to help 

people figure out what’s going on. In fact, it’s often 

better to see your counselor as soon as you know 

something’s up, even if you don’t know what the 

trouble is. Chances are you’ll be able to solve a 

problem faster when you have the skill and resources 

of the counselor behind you.

How often you meet with your counselor depends on 

the issue. Some concerns are dealt with in a one-time 

meeting. Others require regular meetings for a while. 

It all depends on the topic at hand and the plan that 

you and your counselor decide on.

Counselors also sometimes meet students in groups. 

Group meetings can really help people who are 

dealing with similar issues, such as a divorce. In these

group settings, people can share their feelings and 

learn coping skills. Not only do you get great ideas in 

a group setting, but it can also help to know that 

other students are going through the same thing and 

that they understand.

Counselors often come into the classroom, too, to 

teach a class on a subject that affects everyone, such 

as good study skills.

Sometimes the counselor might meet with you and a 

teacher or you and a parent — especially if the teacher

or your parent has asked for the meeting.

How Confidential Is It?

When you meet privately with a school counselor, 

your conversation will most likely be confidential. The 

counselor isn’t going to go blabbing your business 

around school. Different schools have different 

policies, though. So talk directly with your counselor 

about what he or she considers confidential.

In very rare cases, a counselor is unable to keep 

information confidential. A counselor who thinks that 

someone is at risk of being harmed is required by law 

to share that information. Even in these rare cases, 

the counselor will share that information only with the 

people who need to know.

People sometimes worry that other students will think 

they’re seeing the counselor because they have major

problems or they’re in trouble. But in most schools the

counselor deals with lots of school issues — as well as

personal ones. So you could be meeting to get career 

counseling or advice on which classes to take for 

college. Your friends and classmates don’t need to 

know why you’re seeing the counselor unless you 

choose to tell them.

Your school counselor is someone who is separate 

from your life — a neutral adult who isn’t a parent, 

relative, or teacher. Your school counselor isn’t a 

therapist. (So if you see your counselor, it’s not the 

same as getting therapy.) If you need help in some 

way that the school counselor can’t provide, he or she

can give you information about other resources, such 

as the name of a therapist.

No matter what your problem, try to think of the 

counselor as someone who’s on your side. Even if 

you’ve had a bad experience in the past with another 

counselor or a private therapist, don’t hesitate to 

contact your school counselor — or talk to the 

counseling office about seeing someone else if you 

don’t click with your current counselor. Every 

counselor is different, and most understand that it’s 

natural for people to be more comfortable with some 

individuals than others.

Don’t be surprised if your parents know your school 

counselor. They may even be in touch with each 

other. Sometimes counselors offer workshops for 

parents, with or without their kids, about topics such 

as study skills or preventing drug abuse. It’s good for 

the counselor and your parents to know each other 

when everything is going OK. That way, if any 

problems come up — like if you’re being bullied or 

there’s a death in the family and you have to be out of

school — they’ll be able to work together comfortably.

If you’re seeing your counselor and your parents don’t

know about it, don’t worry that the counselor will talk 

to them about your meetings. Unless you’ve given the

counselor the feeling that you may harm yourself or 

others, what’s said in your meetings will stay just 

between you and the counselor.

School counselors are all about helping to make your 

school experience the best it can be. The role of the 

school counselor today is very different from what it 

was like when your parents were in school. Instead of 

just focusing on schoolwork and careers, today’s 

counselors are there for students in a broader way. 

They help students handle almost any problem that 

might get in the way of learning, guide students to 

productive futures, and try to create a positive 

environment for everyone at school. So if you need a 

counselor’s advice, just ask!