School counseling services are provided from primary to secondary educational settings. The program objectives fall into three domains: Educational, Personal/Social, and Career. The educational focus involves the knowledge of academic abilities and educational needs and interests. The personal/social involves the development of an awareness of self and others. The career domain involves the understanding of present and future life roles. These objectives are implemented through developmentally appropriate activities ranging from classroom activities; individual counseling; consultation with parents/guardians, and school personnel; and coordination with community agencies.
Some of the basic school counselor responsibilities include providing counseling to students and support for parents, assisting with behavioral management and training when needed, providing support for teachers with regard to students and their emotional issues, providing crisis intervention and threat evaluation, scheduling students, helping to coordinate state testing, and coordinating outreach programs such as food backpacks, Breakfast Buddies, Stuff the Bus, and Santa Council.
School Counselors
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a free, confidential resource available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, or substance use concerns. As a parent, you or your child can call, text, or chat 988 at any time to connect with a trained crisis counselor who will listen, offer support without judgment, and help you find local resources if needed. The service is not just for emergencies, it’s also there if you’re worried about your child or someone else and need guidance on how to help. Counselors are specially trained to support people of all ages, and fewer than 2% of calls require emergency services, so you can feel comfortable reaching out for help whenever you need it.