Q: What is a School Counselor?

A: A School Counselor is an educator who specializes in working with students to help solve problems. We’re good listeners and we have lots of strategies we can suggest for different issues. Whether it’s a problem at school or at home, a problem with your friends, or a personal issue that you’re dealing with, we’re here to help.

Q: How can a School Counselor help me?

A: You may have a particular concern or worry about something going on right now that is stressing you out. Maybe you are fighting with your parents a lot, maybe you’re friends are pressuring you to do stuff you aren’t comfortable with, or maybe you are having trouble paying attention in class. Whatever the problem is, it’s probably starting to interfere with your school work. School Counselors are trained to help kids work through these and many other problems. We will work together to try to find solutions and to develop emotional skills (like managing your anger or coping with stress) that can prevent other problems in the future.

Q: Do School Counselors talk to my teachers and parents, too?

A: In addition to working with kids, School Counselors also work to help parents and teachers solve problems, too. For example, we might help parents set up outside counseling for their child, or offer suggestions for problems that are happening at home. We might work with teachers to set up behavior plans for students who are having trouble behaving in class, or work with them to brainstorm different strategies to help a student get the most out of their classes.

Q: What else do School Counselors do?

A: Lots of stuff. We consult with teachers and administrators about issues that effect kids and the best ways to meet their needs. School Counselors might help coordinate projects and activities like 5th grade Orientation or High School Course Selection.

Counselors sometimes run support groups for students. These kinds of groups are usually short-term (6-8 weeks long) and focus on specific topics, like dealing with family changes, coping with grief, or developing social skills. Counselors also visit classrooms to provide lessons on topics that are important to all students, like school success, bullying prevention, and peer pressure. These are sometimes referred to as Developmental Guidance lessons, because they address an issue that most kids face at this point in their development. The purpose of these groups and lessons is to help students learn information and skills that will promote healthy academic and emotional development.

Q: How can I contact my/my child’s School Counselor?

A:  Students can stop by the Guidance Office during the school day to see the Counselors or to make an appointment for a later time. It might be awkward at first to talk to someone you don’t know, but we will try to make you feel welcome and relaxed so that you will be comfortable sharing what’s on your mind.  You can also access contact information for Mrs. Carney or Mr. Haupt through this site.