What Does an Elementary School Counselor Do?

​Elementary School Counselors provide young learners with effective and developmentally appropriate tools for communicating, making decisions and developing friendships and coping skills.  School Counselors provide services to all students, and focus primarily on the areas of socio-emotional development, academic support and career awareness.

The American School Counselors Association (ASCA) explains it this way, “Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs provide education, prevention and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. Early identification and intervention of children’s academic and personal/social needs is essential in removing barriers to learning and in promoting academic achievement.”

 As an elementary school counselor,  my time is spent collaborating with teachers and staff, teaching classroom lessons, facilitating short-term small group counseling and providing immediate short-term counseling when needed. In addition, I consult with parents on a regular basis to discuss their child's individual needs and provide referrals for community resources.

How does the counselor spend her time?

​School Guidance Curriculum

• Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills
• Goal setting and decision-making
• Career awareness, exploration and planning
• Education on understanding self and others
• Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills
• Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution
• Multicultural/diversity awareness
• Individual student planning

System Support

• Professional development
• Consultation, collaboration and teaming
• Program management and operation
• Transition plans

​Academic planning

• Goal setting/decision- making
• Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses                       

Responsive Services

• Individual and small-group counseling
• Individual/family/school crisis intervention
• Conflict resolution
• Consultation/collaboration
• Referrals

I am also known to spend time playing with puppets!