Guidance counselors play an important role in helping our students succeed at school
Guidance and student services can include several different types of assistance based on the needs of students.
- Social/Emotional guidance: Sometimes students need a little help fitting in. Whether they are struggling with social awkwardness, behavior challenges, difficulty with peers, or relating to others, guidance counselors can help them gain a level of confidence that allows them to get through these challenges so they can focus on their academic success and foster better interpersonal relationships.
- Student mediations: Sometimes conflicts between students can best be resolved with the help of a guidance counselor who can help open lines of communication and build bridges. Students who are helped to understand how their actions truly affect others can often learn alternative ways to use their voices and actions in constructive ways.
- Grief counseling: There are times when a student’s life turns upside down. The death of a loved one is very difficult for children to process grief and learn healthy ways to deal with their emotions. Guidance counselors can teach them coping skills and provide a safe space for them to talk about their feelings as they go through the grieving process.
- Classroom guidance: Guidance counselors may lead classroom lessons and discussions on topics such as bullying, building healthy relationships, and strategies for academic success.
- Community resources: Sometimes students’ basic needs are not met outside of school. Guidance counselors can help match resources for food, shelter, and medical assistance through established community partnerships.
- Academic guidance: High school students particularly need guidance in course selection and college or career preparation planning. Guidance counselors can also assist with establishing good study skills and navigating through financial assistance, college applications, and test preparation skills to help students get into the college of their choice.