Launching a Career as a School Counselor

When you want to start a rewarding career, you may be weighing up your options. Finding an opportunity that is right for you and rewarding at the same time can be difficult. However, that being said, it is certainly not impossible. When you look at launching a career as a school counselor, you look at making an impact on the lives of young people. You look at giving them opportunities and space to talk and express themselves.  School life can be hectic and chaotic at the best of times. Being there for kids and being around to listen and even show empathy is important – because this will help them develop emotionally and socially. A career as a school counselor will leave you feeling fulfilled.

What Does a School Counselor Do

A school counselor is there for students at times when they need reassurance and through those times when they need support. A school counselor has one-to-one sessions with students to ensure that they are happy and content with how their studies are going. School counselors can encourage kids to speak up, and they can encourage them to develop and improve as naturally as possible. School counselors liaise with other education professionals to help create outlets and programs that will be beneficial to kids and their development. On a daily basis, things can change from one minute to the next (but as a rule), a school counseling service will help children look at future career plans, as well as look at ways that they can overcome any struggles that they may be having within their own life.

Roles and Responsibilities

As a counselor within a school setting, you will find that your role is diverse. You will also find that no two days are the same (or, in fact, no two students are the same). Everything that you do must be for the welfare of students and their future too. For example, one day, you could be helping a student overcome anxiety and stress they feel about upcoming exams, and the next, you could be creating and implementing school programs on areas such as how to provide academic and emotional guidance and support. You are there two drive and motivate students as well as care for their emotional and physical well-being. The huge weight and pressure that you can hold can, at times, feel overwhelming. It is important that you prepare yourself for the role as best as you can and never hesitate to always invest in professional development.

Skills Your Will Need for the Role

Your education is hugely important in your career as a school counselor, but you will also find there will be a broad skill set that you will employ to help you get your job done. Within this skillset, you will find that listening and communication will be hugely important. Being able to get students to open up and communicate with ease is important, and to do this, you will need to listen to what they are saying, and you will have to learn to look for cues and signs in their body language. The range of hard skills and soft skills that you need will develop and grow as your role builds. You will find that your soft skills will have to blend seamlessly with your hard skills. For example, you will find that your listening skills will evolve and grow alongside your skill for empathy. Being open to improving and enhancing your skillset at all times is important, and it is a mindset and approach that you really must embrace.

Why You Would Make a Great School Counselor

When you know what is expected of you and you know the role and impact you will have in students’ lives, it is important to establish just why you would make a great school counselor. Seeing how you would fit into the lives of students and also seeing what you can offer and bring to the role is important. When you cover this early on, you will give yourself purpose and clear direction. Establishing how you see yourself in the role and establishing what will make you great in a counseling role is crucial. So, would you aim to communicate with students of all ages? Would you try to make inclusive programs? Or, would you focus on specific key groups?

Building Children’s Confidence

When students are at school, they are facing a lot of challenges and obstacles. They may feel that they have to conform to awkward or high standards, and they may feel that their confidence is dented and affected along the way. When you can start positively building a child’s/.students confidence, you can start giving them control and power over their feelings and over their approach to their studies. When children are more confident, they will feel that they can tackle anything – and this is how you want them to feel. As a counselor, it will be part of your role to build their confidence – both in their studies and in their approach to school life. You may find creating and implementing whole school policies and programs will make this happen. Or, you may find that one-to-one support and guidance is the best way to move forwards.

Enhancing Listening and Communication Skills

A huge part of your role will involve listening and communicating at all levels. Whether this is with students or with other professionals in the education system. It is therefore important that you focus on enhancing your listening and communication skills through experience and training. Practicing how you will converse with students is important and is something that will be hugely beneficial. Active listening will help you problem-solve, and plan for the future, so focus on listening skills just as much as communication skills.

Your Entry into School Counseling

Now that you know what the role and responsibilities of a school counselor involve, and you know what is expected of you as a professional – you have to decide what your entry route into counseling is going to be. For example, if you already hold a bachelor’s degree, you will then be able to study for a master’s in school counseling. A master’s is essential for counseling, and as such, it is often a requirement to possess a master’s degree in a lot of states. When you have realized how essential and fundamental a master’s is to your career, you can then start finding a program that works for you and for your circumstances. Expect to be studying for between 2 and 4 years to get your master’s. Once you have successfully passed your studies, you will then need to get licensed or certified in order to land a role in a school setting.

Getting Your Certification

To get your license or certification, you will have to check state requirements within the area you want to work. State requirements can vary, and some may require certification at the same time as completion of a master’s, while others may require a license to be issued after a master’s has been successfully completed. Once you have gained your certification, you will then need to start going about finding and landing your first role.

Start Gaining Experience

The more experience that you can gain as a school counselor – then the more you can give back to children and students of all ages. To successfully gain experience, you have to find a role that is suitable for you. This role will be one that pushes (and tests you), but it will be one that builds your confidence in your approach and in your abilities too. When you are finding roles, you should look at local school settings, but you should also look at opportunities out of your current state. Stepping out of your comfort zone to gain that relevant and useful experience may be just what you need to do.

A Rewarding Career

As a counselor, you will find that the role is challenging, but you will find that what you get back from the role leaves you feeling satisfied and rewarded on a professional level. When you see how students are progressing, and you see the impact (first hand) that you are having on their lives and on their plans, then you will see just how rewarding a career in counseling is. Being able to make a change in the lives of students and being able to positively influence and guide is something that you cannot achieve or do in a lot of other careers.

Being a Connection and Link for Kids

Students and kids can often lack the voice they need to make change happens. Often they need to know what direction to look in or even go in. Sometimes they may need that extra support and guidance along the way. You can be the missing link and connection that students need to push themselves. The link and void that you fill will shape students’ development both while they are in school and in their near futures too.