Why You Should Seek A Guidance Counselor

Updated February 8, 2023by MyTherapist Editorial Team

Therapy Can Be Healing And Can Teach You Coping Techniques

Guidance counselors can help shape your life, especially if they care about students. This article will discuss what a guidance counselor is and how counseling can benefit you or your child.

What Is A Guidance Counselor?

Guidance counselors are better known as school counselors. A school counselor, just like a school psychologist, works with children, teens, and adults in community colleges and provides school counseling to help them with them their needs. Topics they may discuss include:

  • Their grades. If a student's grades are slipping, a school counselor wants to find out why. If their grades are exceptional, guidance counselors are there to keep up the momentum.
  • The class schedules. A school counselor, especially one in a community college setting, will help students figure out the best schedule for their needs.
  • A school counselor may help the student with their testing if they have certain needs or discuss future tests.
  • Help with various scholarships so that the students can make the most out of their scholastic journey.
  • They can talk to students about colleges or various career training opportunities. If a student is interested in a particular topic, a school counselor can help them find the best college or training program for their specific career path.
  • A school counselor may meet with the student to counsel them regarding their emotional needs and provide school counseling and services.
  • They may go inside classrooms and observe the students who are struggling. They will talk to teachers and see if their environment is the ideal environment for them.

A school counselor can also help by meeting groups in addition to meeting with individuals. School counselors may sit down with a group of students to talk about future events in the school, encourage them to participate, or have anti-drug programs or other programs to prevent them from getting in trouble.

How Important Guidance Counselors Are

When one thinks about the various people who make up a school, they may think about teachers, the principal, assistant teachers, and so on, but they may not think of the school counselor. The school counselor is an unappreciated part of the school system, even though they help the students in many ways (including providing school counseling) and the school administrators. If it weren't for school counselors, few students plan for their careers, and applying for college may be more difficult.

Helping With Students' Problems

School counselors help the students academically, but some provide help and counseling if they face personal problems. These include:

  • Social problems. Say the child is struggling with friends or being bullied. The school counselor can figure out what the reason is and what the counselor can do to help them. This especially applies when the student is new and is unsure of how to socialize.
  • Helps students with their emotional problems. If the student is depressed, irritable, or has other extreme emotions, the school counselor can figure out why. If the reason involves a mental health disorder, they may recommend a therapist outside of school counseling. Sometimes, the reason may be due to home life or something that happened with the school.
  • They can help students by just being an ear to listen to. A school counselor is trained to understand students, especially those in the age range of the school. Elementary school students are much different from talking to then high school students, and in school counseling, a counselor should have a good idea of how they all work.
  • A school counselor may talk to a group of students who are having problems. Sometimes, the answer is for all the students to work together and figure out their solutions, and a school counselor can help with that by motivating the group.
  • A school counselor can help an older student who may be getting involved with an unhelpful peer group. The adolescent years are susceptible to bad influences, and a school counselor is there to make sure the student isn't getting involved with drugs or other inappropriate behaviors.

Guidance Counselors And Parents

A good school counselor will have a relationship with the student's parents. If the student struggles with academics, emotions, or social difficulties, the school counselor will inform the parents and work together to figure out why. Parents should often talk to their child's counselors to make sure everything is going well and help with any questions and concerns. If the student is in a situation where they're in trouble, such as suspension, the school counselor helps make a case for the student and defends them.

School counselors may also talk to the parents if they believe there are problems at home. Sometimes, parental neglect may be why the child is misbehaving in school, and guidance counselors want to figure it out so the student can be the best they can be.

Where Can You Find A Guidance Counselor?

School counselors work at schools of all levels, so they deal with people from all walks of life. They work with children in elementary schools and even young children in head start schools. Young adolescents get counseling and advice from school counselors in middle school, and budding adults get life advice in high school. Young adults and even adults of other ages will get the advice they deserve in college.

They work throughout the school year, making the best of their life.

How They Help Throughout The Ages

Here are some ways school counselors and school counseling evolve as you grow older.

Elementary School

When you're in elementary school, it's an extremely important part of your development. How you're raised at home and how you learn in school is a great influence. School counselors must ensure there are no troubles at home and there are no learning difficulties. Every student learns differently, and by figuring out how a child learns the best, they can help the child grow older.

Middle School

Middle school is an interesting time for many students. Their bodies are starting to transform into adolescence, and they're getting involved with more complex schoolwork, concepts, and they're starting to wonder how they'll tackle high school. School counseling can help with the awkward transition between childhood and adolescence, and they can provide school counseling to the children and figure out how their high school life will be like. Middle school is also when many children start to experiment with drugs, so a guidance counselor may try anti-drug programs to prevent that.

High School

High school is the final challenge of public school. The children are now growing into young adults, and they're starting to wonder what they'll be. A counselor may put the teenager in more complex classes depending on their learning style, which can help them prepare for college. In school counseling, guidance counselors may ask the students what they want to be when they go to college or go to college. They can help students with scholarships, the ability to go to a college best suited for their career, and help them with any other questions they may have.

Therapy Can Be Healing And Can Teach You Coping Techniques

College

In a community college, navigating a future path can be confusing. Some young adults are still undecided on their future careers or continue to a four-year degree program. Guidance counselors can help narrow down their options. They may help the student have a smoother early college experience. A counselor can help the student prepare for a job once they graduate and help with any financial aid questions. The counselor may also provide job and internship opportunities depending on the job of the counselor. If you're in college, talking to your guidance counselor can benefit you immensely. They can make a schedule suited for you and get you out the door faster.

To Summarize

The job of a guidance counselor is rewarding. Guidance counselors know that the people they serve are the future of this world, so they must teach them right. From the innocent child to the college student figuring out their purpose, a counselor will provide insight every step of the way and give them the best advice they can.

Seek Help!

If you need help while in school, or if your child needs help, don't be afraid to talk to a guidance counselor for advice. Getting advice from an expert, especially in a world where the education system is ever-changing, is a smart move to make, and you can benefit a lot from talking to one. We all need a mentor who can help us succeed, and a guidance counselor can be that mentor we need.

Also, don't feel ashamed to talk to a regular therapist as well. You or your child must have exceptional mental health, and you can do this by talking to a therapist and treating any problems you face head-on. Don't be afraid to speak to a therapist today.

For Additional Help & Support With Your Concerns

This website is owned and operated by BetterHelp, who receives all fees associated with the platform.
The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.
Get the support you need from one of our therapistsGet Started
This website is owned and operated by BetterHelp, who receives all fees associated with the platform.