A couple of questions about counseling.

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Counselors

MEMBERS

4 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Counselors Chatboard

A couple of questions about counseling.

by Ashley

May 17, 2013

Hello All! I'm currently an elementary school supply teacher enrolled in a program to become a guidance counselor. Part of our current module is an interview with a guidance counselor, but my interview fell through and I am a bit stuck. I was wondering if anyone could help me by answering the following questions:

•What role does guidance play in your school? •What qualities does one need to be an effective guidance counsellor? •What does a typical day look like for a guidance counsellor? •What are the qualities or attributes of an effective guidance program? •What advice would you give to anyone considering working in the guidance field? •What advice would you have like to have had before becoming a guidance counsellor?

Feel free to email me or respond to the thread. I would be so grateful for any help you can give! I'm really excited about becoming a school counselor and look forward hearing any feedback!

Thanks so much!

~Ashley

Comment

(4)

report post

julia Hi Ashley, I am way late on in responding to your post, but I am a middle school counselor. No day is ever the same, and I am at a school with 1200 kids, and only 1 counselor. I urge you to look at the American School Counselor Association (we are called School Counselors now - not Guidance Counselors). And as you look I recommend a CACREP Certifie...See MoreHi Ashley, I am way late on in responding to your post, but I am a middle school counselor. No day is ever the same, and I am at a school with 1200 kids, and only 1 counselor. I urge you to look at the American School Counselor Association (we are called School Counselors now - not Guidance Counselors). And as you look I recommend a CACREP Certified Program. Best of luck!

On 6/10/13, Susanne wrote: > > Hi Ashley, > > Funny I am doing something similar. I am not back in college > yet, but I have been going to a Career Counselor and she > suggested that I interview a counselor. I interviewed a > middle school counselor today and was amazed at the variety of > tasks counselors do. I kind of like the idea of every day > being different and challenging. She also is allowed to have > a lot of creativity in her job which I love. She used > theater, writing, reading, etc. in her role. She also said > that you have to very "flexible," because things could change > on a dime. Most importantly she said she loved her job. Her > best advice was to be patient while looking for a job, do not > turn away chances to fill in. She did a lot of volunteer work > first also and she mentioned that first and foremost the most > important thing on a daily basis is the kids that drop in to > talk and returning parent phone calls. Everything else takes a > back seat. Hope this helps. Maybe we can compare notes > sometime. I have been a teacher for three years now but I am > looking for something different. > > Susanne > > P.S. Curious, what is an elementary supply teacher. > > On 5/17/13, Ashley wrote: >> Hello All! >> I'm currently an elementary school supply teacher enrolled >> in a program to become a guidance counselor. Part of our >> current module is an interview with a guidance counselor, >> but my interview fell through and I am a bit stuck. I was >> wondering if anyone could help me by answering the >> following questions: >> >> •What role does guidance play in your school? >> •What qualities does one need to be an effective guidance >> counsellor? >> •What does a typical day look like for a guidance >> counsellor? >> •What are the qualities or attributes of an effective >> guidance program? >> •What advice would you give to anyone considering working >> in the guidance field? >> •What advice would you have like to have had before >> becoming a guidance counsellor? >> >> >> Feel free to email me or respond to the thread. I would be >> so grateful for any help you can give! I'm really excited >> about becoming a school counselor and look forward hearing >> any feedback! >> >> Thanks so much! >> >> ~Ashley

Mar 2, 2014

report post

Brian On 5/17/13, Ashley wrote: > Hello All! > I'm currently an elementary school supply teacher enrolled > in a program to become a guidance counselor. Part of our > current module is an interview with a guidance counselor, > but my interview fell through and I am a bit stuck. I was > wondering if anyone could help me by answering the ...See MoreOn 5/17/13, Ashley wrote: > Hello All! > I'm currently an elementary school supply teacher enrolled > in a program to become a guidance counselor. Part of our > current module is an interview with a guidance counselor, > but my interview fell through and I am a bit stuck. I was > wondering if anyone could help me by answering the > following questions: > > •What role does guidance play in your school? > •What qualities does one need to be an effective guidance > counsellor? > •What does a typical day look like for a guidance > counsellor? > •What are the qualities or attributes of an effective > guidance program? > •What advice would you give to anyone considering working > in the guidance field? > •What advice would you have like to have had before > becoming a guidance counsellor? > > > Feel free to email me or respond to the thread. I would be > so grateful for any help you can give! I'm really excited > about becoming a school counselor and look forward hearing > any feedback! > > Thanks so much! > > ~Ashley

I am a high school counselor so some of my answers may not match that of a prospective elementary counselor..

What role does guidance play in your school? Counselors at our high school have multiple roles - many of the roles vary depending the time of year. Student scheduling is a major task for us. We are responsible for scheduling adjustments at the start of each trimester. From January to March, we meet individually with each student to discuss course selections for the next school year and to discuss future plans. We also meet individually with every senior in the fall to make sure they have a plan for beyond the senior year and have a "get to know" meeting with every ninth grader. We check student grades, design academic interventions and monitor graduation progress. Communication with parents, teachers and administrators takes place on a daily basis. I meet regularly with students regarding personal and academic concerns. I am in charge of the following programs: dual enrollment,Early College,tech center coordinator, Special testing coordinator for the ACT and SAT, as well as create Powerpoints/organize parent meetings. There are other "duties as assigned" but you get the idea :)

What qualities does one need to be an effective guidance > counsellor? Patience, understanding and an open mind are key. You have think on your feet and be ready to change gears from one appointment to the next. You will need to handle information in a confidential manner. Some of the situations may test your beliefs but you have to put that aside and remember your not here to judge but to help the individual.

What does a typical day look like for a guidance > counsellor? The beauty of being a counselor,there is no "typical day". You never know what situation you will be confronted with on a day to day basis - i think its that component that keeps the job fresh. There are times of the year when you have you tasks to complete but often those get interrupted with student/parent/teacher concerns that need to be dealt with on the spot.

•What are the qualities or attributes of an effective > guidance program? I think the office itself has to be welcoming to students and parents. Communication is key. Parents need to be informed on role of the guidance office in the college process, course selection

May 28, 2013

report post

Brian On 5/28/13, Brian wrote: > On 5/17/13, Ashley wrote: >> Hello All! >> I'm currently an elementary school supply teacher enrolled >> in a program to become a guidance counselor. Part of our >> current module is an interview with a guidance counselor, >> but my interview fell through and I am a bit stuck. I was >&g...See MoreOn 5/28/13, Brian wrote: > On 5/17/13, Ashley wrote: >> Hello All! >> I'm currently an elementary school supply teacher enrolled >> in a program to become a guidance counselor. Part of our >> current module is an interview with a guidance counselor, >> but my interview fell through and I am a bit stuck. I was >> wondering if anyone could help me by answering the >> following questions: >> >> •What role does guidance play in your school? >> •What qualities does one need to be an effective guidance >> counsellor? >> •What does a typical day look like for a guidance >> counsellor? >> •What are the qualities or attributes of an effective >> guidance program? >> hat advice would you give to anyon•We considering working >> in the guidance field? >> •What advice would you have like to have had before >> becoming a guidance counsellor? >> >> >> Feel free to email me or respond to the thread. I would be >> so grateful for any help you can give! I'm really excited >> about becoming a school counselor and look forward hearing >> any feedback! >> >> Thanks so much! >> >> ~Ashley > > > I am a high school counselor so some of my answers may not > match that of a prospective elementary counselor.. > > What role does guidance play in your school? Counselors at our > high school have multiple roles - many of the roles vary > depending the time of year. Student scheduling is a major task > for us. We are responsible for scheduling adjustments at the > start of each trimester. From January to March, we meet > individually with each student to discuss course selections > for the next school year and to discuss future plans. We also > meet individually with every senior in the fall to make sure > they have a plan for beyond the senior year and have a "get > to know" meeting with every ninth grader. We check student > grades, design academic interventions and monitor graduation > progress. Communication with parents, teachers and > administrators takes place on a daily basis. I meet regularly > with students regarding personal and academic concerns. I am > in charge of the following programs: dual enrollment,Early > College,tech center coordinator, Special testing coordinator > for the ACT and SAT, as well as create Powerpoints/organize > parent meetings. There are other "duties as assigned" but you > get the idea :) > > What qualities does one need to be an effective guidance >> counsellor? Patience, understanding and an open mind are key. > You have think on your feet and be ready to change gears from > one appointment to the next. You will need to handle > information in a confidential manner. Some of the situations > may test your beliefs but you have to put that aside and > remember your not here to judge but to help the individual. > > What does a typical day look like for a guidance >> counsellor? The beauty of being a counselor,there is no > "typical day". You never know what situation you will be > confronted with on a day to day basis - i think its that > component that keeps the job fresh. There are times of the > year when you have you tasks to complete but often those get > interrupted with student/parent/teacher concerns that need to > be dealt with on the spot. > > •What are the qualities or attributes of an effective >> guidance program? I think the office itself has to be > welcoming to students and parents. Communication is key. > Parents need to be informed on role of the guidance office in > the college process, course selections, standardized testing, score interpretations, etc.. we hold grade level parent meetings for each class highlighting specifics for each grade.

•What advice would you give to anyone considering working >> in the guidance field? If you believe you have the qualities that make an effective counselor then get the degree. I think the best advice I ever had about counseling students is this - it's not about telling kids what to do, it's about providing choices for them. Kids typically pick the right option when given the opportunity to really consider the pros and cons of each choice. The other bit of valuable advice is that counseling is often times more about listening than talking - you'll be amazed how some people solve their own problems by being heard. Listening is an art, it's not that easy..

May 28, 2013

report post

Susanne Hi Ashley,

Funny I am doing something similar. I am not back in college yet, but I have been going to a Career Counselor and she suggested that I interview a counselor. I interviewed a middle school counselor today and was amazed at the variety of tasks counselors do. I kind of like the idea of every day being different and challenging. S...See MoreHi Ashley,

Funny I am doing something similar. I am not back in college yet, but I have been going to a Career Counselor and she suggested that I interview a counselor. I interviewed a middle school counselor today and was amazed at the variety of tasks counselors do. I kind of like the idea of every day being different and challenging. She also is allowed to have a lot of creativity in her job which I love. She used theater, writing, reading, etc. in her role. She also said that you have to very "flexible," because things could change on a dime. Most importantly she said she loved her job. Her best advice was to be patient while looking for a job, do not turn away chances to fill in. She did a lot of volunteer work first also and she mentioned that first and foremost the most important thing on a daily basis is the kids that drop in to talk and returning parent phone calls. Everything else takes a back seat. Hope this helps. Maybe we can compare notes sometime. I have been a teacher for three years now but I am looking for something different.

Susanne

P.S. Curious, what is an elementary supply teacher.

On 5/17/13, Ashley wrote: > Hello All! > I'm currently an elementary school supply teacher enrolled > in a program to become a guidance counselor. Part of our > current module is an interview with a guidance counselor, > but my interview fell through and I am a bit stuck. I was > wondering if anyone could help me by answering the > following questions: > > •What role does guidance play in your school? > •What qualities does one need to be an effective guidance > counsellor? > •What does a typical day look like for a guidance > counsellor? > •What are the qualities or attributes of an effective > guidance program? > •What advice would you give to anyone considering working > in the guidance field? > •What advice would you have like to have had before > becoming a guidance counsellor? > > > Feel free to email me or respond to the thread. I would be > so grateful for any help you can give! I'm really excited > about becoming a school counselor and look forward hearing > any feedback! > > Thanks so much! > > ~Ashley

Jun 10, 2013

report post