How to become A Guidance Counselor

A person's most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help. And so, though an individual may be just a Guidance Counselor to the world, they are heroes to their students.

• School Guidance Counselor
• Advisor

What do Guidance Counselors do?

A Guidance Counselor would typically need to:

• Enable elementary, middle school, and high school students to become mature and well-functioning adults
• Develop an all-encompassing academic, occupational, and counseling plan that provides students with a safe and non-judgemental avenue to voice their concerns
• Conduct individual and group counseling sessions to advise and assist students with academic and vocational development
• Evaluate students’ attributes through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores; assist them to realize their strengths and primary and secondary objectives
• Resolve educational handicaps of students through help with course and subject selection
• Develop and implement contemporary methods of mentoring and counseling strategies to ensure student success; keep open lines of communication with teachers, parents, guardians, and administrators
• Identify behavioral problems or at-risk students, facilitate crisis intervention and prevention programs; and report possible neglect or abuse to resources outside the school
• Refer students and parents to resources outside the school for additional support
• Maintain and ensure confidentiality of relevant stakeholders unless the situation decrees otherwise
• Maintain and continually update a directory of referral services to be utilized in crises affecting students such as suicide threats or alcohol and drug-induced traumas
• Pay attention to societal and cultural differences in all matters related to students to foster equal opportunity practices and encourage student collaboration
• Assess the development of students and highlight their accomplishments
• Cooperate with parents, academic staff and external partners, participate in faculty meetings, committees, and the sponsorship of student activities; arrange and schedule orientation programs and internships
• Advertise facilities and study programs to potential students; implement and facilitate educational and training workshops for academic staff
• Study and update student records; complete evaluations, and analyze results; provide feedback to applicable stakeholders
• Prepare and present reviews on progress to prevent students from dropping out of school
• Share occupational information to help students and their parents realistically evaluate career interests and choices
• Share information about college entrance requirements, scholarships and financial programs with students seeking a college education and their parents
• Plan field trips to schools, colleges, and preferred places of the industry for students
• Take an active role in interpreting the school’s objectives to students, parents or guardians and the community at large

Guidance Counselors spend most of their workdays in an office, as they need private space to meet with students and others involved in each student’s development. They may venture outside to observe students during their time at school. Teachers may report certain behaviors to the Guidance Counselor, and the latter may want to make independent observations as part of assessing the student’s counseling needs.

Professionalism, practicality, and comfort should control a Guidance Counselor’s wardrobe choices. Dress codes can vary considerably by the school, but there are a handful of universal rules. Avoid tight, sheer, or revealing clothing. Stay age-appropriate. Stock up on wardrobe-essentials. Choose shoes for comfort. Layer up. Leave expensive jewelry and accessories at home.

Most Guidance Counselors work full-time. Some do not work during the summer months when school is out of session. Guidance Counselors put in regular hours except when they may have to meet with parents or students after school hours for a counseling session.

Fresh recruits may have to settle for less desirable assignments than Guidance Counselors who have been around the block a few times. There is stiffer competition for jobs in high-performing and affluent schools.

Guidance Counselors are generally employed by:

• Public & Private Schools
• Academic Institutions
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Individual or Family Services

Professional associations and organizations are vital for Guidance Counselors interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications.

• Emotionally demanding work
• An understanding of the importance of confidentiality as well as awareness of its limitations
• Occasional working hours outside of 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and on weekends
• Work in a fast-paced environment with multiple students/clients

An internship or practicum experience completed under the supervision of a licensed professional Guidance Counselor is essential. Job postings may not mention expertise per se, but a more experienced candidate will have a definite edge over a less experienced one.

Most employers prefer a candidate with a master’s degree in school or guidance counseling, social work, and social services from an accredited college or university. Knowledge of various models of teaching, as well as the best guidance counseling practices and regulations, will prove invaluable.

Certification demonstrates competency in skills, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three. Some locations require applicants to have classroom teaching experience or hold a teaching license before being certified. Most locations require a criminal background check as part of the credentialing process.

Guidance Counselors employed in public schools must have a government-issued license or certification to practice, although requirements vary by location. Licensure or certification typically requires a master’s degree in Guidance Counseling, an internship or practicum completed under the supervision of a licensed professional Guidance Counselor, and successful completion of an exam.

Guidance Counselors with significant experience beneath their belts may take on Supervisory or Directorial roles for Counseling Personnel Services. They may also become school Administrators or Counseling Educators or work for the department of education in the government.

Candidates with counseling degrees and experience have better job prospects.

Guidance Counselors will do well to maintain professional competence through in-service education activities provided by the school or the government and through self-selected professional growth activities.

A Hands-On Role Outside the Classroom

A Guidance Counselor serves as an administrative staff member who has a hands-on role outside the classroom. Guidance Counselors work with students dealing with stress from school, social pressures, and family life to improve their classroom performance and overall wellness. The responsibilities may vary according to student age and grade level.

Working in Collaboration to Help Students

Students come to school with a wide range of problems and challenges. They may have learning disabilities, come from low-income families, experience abuse or neglect, or have an addiction. School Guidance Counselors work in collaboration with parents, teachers, principals, medical professionals, and social workers to identify and address them.

Guidance Counselors help students overcome problems that impede learning and assist them in making educational, occupational, and life plans that hold promise for their fulfillment as mature and responsible adults.

The Value of Trust

Guidance Counselors in elementary and secondary schools help students overcome obstacles that may inhibit their learning. Guidance Counselors must win the trust of their students to get the information needed to apply their professional knowledge appropriately.

Knowing the Limits of Confidentiality

Part of inspiring the students' trust is maintaining confidentiality, but Guidance Counselors must also know when it is essential to break the students’ confidentiality. When students discuss crimes, abuse, or neglect, they must report this information to the appropriate authorities.

They should also report suspicions of crimes, abuse, and neglect when their professional judgment makes them believe that these events have occurred or are ongoing.

Guidance Counselors are around to help students in any way they see fit: from prepping for college, to resolving personal issues, to merely chatting, Guidance Counselors always have your back!

Guidance Counselors make a difference: they teach students how to make good choices.

If there is just one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own.