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Home » Departments » Student, Family and Community Services » Guidance Counseling
Guidance Counseling
 Your School Counselor is a Professional, Specialist & Educator
Promote self-empowerment of Texas students by supporting proactive, preventive school counseling programs.
What Is A School Counselor?
- A TEA/SBEC certified, specially trained professional
- An educator who advocates for all students
- A coordinator
- A consultant
- A group leader
- A mediator
- A professional who helps teachers, parents and other adults to understand children
- A professional who helps children understand themselves and others
 What Are The Minimum Qualifications For A Texas School Counselor?
- Master's Degree
- Three years teaching experience (Two years for counselors entering the profession after 09-01-02 )
- State Certification (Many school counselors have additional specialization).
What Basic Life Skills Does A School Counselor Teach?
- Self-understanding and self-confidence
- Motivation to achieve
- Decision-making, goal-setting, planning and problem solving (conflict resolution)
- Interpersonal relationships to include social skills
- Communication skills
- Respect for others and appreciation of cultural differences
- Responsible behavior
- Career awareness
 Safety issues
- Self-empowerment and resiliency
What Does A School Counselor Do?
- Develops a guidance plan based on a campus needs assessment
- Counsels with students individually and/or in groups
- Provides systematic and developmental classroom guidance to all students
- Responds to student needs in crisis situations
- Orients students to new school settings
- Works with absentees, potential dropouts and other at-risk students
- Participates actively in the referral process of students to special programs and/or services
- Participates actively in the referral process of students and/or parents to services and agencies outside the school
- Analyzes test results to provide information about abilities, achievement, interests and needs
- Coordinates efforts with other school specialists
 Conducts conferences with parents
- Facilitates parent discussion groups
- Helps with individual school, college and career plans to increase graduation rate
- Coordinates school to work initiatives
- Coordinates with post-secondary institutions to increase college attendance
- Coordinates staff support activities
- Conducts an annual evaluation of the guidance program
- Pursues continuous opportunities for professional growth and development
- Adheres to ethical and legal standards
With Whom Does A School Counselor Work And Consult?
 Students and Parents
- Teachers and Administrators
- Other counselors and colleagues
- School boards
- Community resources personnel
- Medical and mental health professionals
How Is A Student Referral Made To The School Counselor?
- Self-referral
- Teacher, administrator or staff referral
- Parent referral
- Peer referral
- Counselor observation
Why Do Parents Contact A School Counselor?
- Academic achievement
- New school registration, orientation and transition
- Test interpretation
- Special needs of students
- Student crisis situations
- Family transitions
- Higher education issues
 At What Level Can Students Have Access To A School Counselor
- Elementary
- Middle
- High School
The Challenge
- All students can learn. A student who is troubled, however, cannot learn as easily. School counselors can help. Family fragmentation, substance abuse, child abuse, poverty, violence and suicide are among the social stressors placing numerous students at risk of educational failure and dropping out of school. Early intervention is essential with parents and guardians playing a vital role. A guidance program that provides direct services and is directed by a professionally trained counselor is a critical component of a school's prevention efforts in the 21st century.
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