What does a guidance counselor do?
*Work with individuals and groups (One to one counseling, classroom guidance, small group counseling) *Help students develop better interpersonal relationships *Assist students in making sound choices and decisions *Assist people in making use of community resources *Assist students in the process of growing up *Coordinate referrals to outside agencies *Coordinate school wide programs ( Civil Rights Team, Students Assistance Team, Peer Mediation, Big Brothers/Sisters) *Provide assistance to parents on issues of concern *Maintain confidence
A guidance counselor works in a school setting to help students better prepare for continuing education, or to help facilitate decisions made about future careers. The requirements for becoming a guidance counselor varies among schools. Guidance counselors tend to have at least a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in psychology, but may also have a B.A. in career counseling. Some states require high school counselors to have a masters degree as well, and many public require a license. In the college setting, counselors may not have a B.A., but may be experts in their teaching area. Sometimes the guidance counselor at the college level is called an academic advisor. In the elementary setting, guidance counselors are frequently catchall counselors who help to facilitate testing for learning disabilities and may also manage Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for students in need of them. They tend not to offer psychological assistance to students, but may participate in observation of students in
