School Counselors: What do they do?

For everyone

The school counseling field has evolved greatly in the 21st century. Counselors provide additional support to students that extends beyond the academics, but only recent generations have significantly benefited from the changes in this field. The way students perceive a counselor’s role is also affected by the community’s needs, which will be explained in this reflection. This reflection will also briefly discuss the history of counseling and personal experiences with counselors from different generations.

Counseling has not only changed in the U.S. these past decades, but it also practiced differently according to the country and culture. Growing up in Puerto Rico in the early 2000’s, school counselors did not exist in elementary school, my elementary school only had one social worker. Once I entered 7th grade, in a private school, I learned what a counselor was. However, my understanding of a counselor was not the same as my understanding now. Back then, a counselor was someone who simply helped you with the college admissions process. All I ever talked to my counselor about was the SAT, the FAFSA, extracurriculars, majors, universities, etc. It wasn’t until I began working I the education field that I understood the role of a counselor.

Upon asking other people what their experience with school counselors is, I learned that I wasn’t the only one to be so ignorant of their role. My mom said that she never really had any counselors until she was around 16 years old. She explained that the only times she met with a counselor was when she was failing her classes and had to attend conferences with the counselor and her mom. However, she said that there was nothing else to else to it, except discussing her grades and behavior. “It wasn’t until I had you and your brother that I met with a counselor who educated me about getting my GED.” added my mom. 

Her experience isn’t the only one this way, one of my friend’s experience was very similar. During his elementary and middle school years, there were no counselors. Once he got to high school, the school assigned students to a specific counselor each year. However, when he started meeting with the counselors, it was only college related. He said that although his counselors did not help him with everything he needed, he still benefited from their support in the college application process. He also mentioned how he would’ve liked to have counselors that actually conducted wellness checks and supported him in other aspects because at the end of the day he didn’t even want to go to college.

All three of our experiences were affected by cultural and contextual differences and we all saw the evolution of counseling differently. Although my friend and I grew up in different cultures and places, our experience was not too dissimilar. I believe that our experiences highlight the need for a more well-rounded approach from counselors to support beyond the academics. Fortunately, the field of counseling is constantly evolving to better meet the needs of students and the community.

Mini History Lesson on School counseling:

School counseling began by focusing on helping students find their career paths (Gysberg,2010).  Which makes sense why most of our experiences with school counselors are mostly college related. This changed throughout the 1900s as new discoveries were made in the field of psychology and child studies. These emphasized the importance of supporting the personal and psychological health of students.  In 1958, the National Defense Education Act advocated for the importance of counselors in schools and provided funding for school counselor training (Gysberg.2010).

The philosophical foundations of school counseling are rooted in the belief that education should address the holistic development of students. This includes not only academic achievement but also emotional, social, and psychological well-being. “The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, first published in 2003, embodies this philosophy by promoting a comprehensive, data-driven approach to school counseling that supports all aspects of student development” (Gysberg, 2010).

In summary, the role of school counselors has evolved significantly over time, transitioning from primarily academic scheduling to a more holistic approach that includes wellness checks and college preparation. This evolution reflects broader historical, philosophical, and educational trends that emphasize the importance of mental health and comprehensive student support. While personal experiences and those of interviewees highlight variability in counselor engagement, the overarching trend is towards a more integrated and supportive role. Continued adaptation and responsiveness to student needs will be crucial for the future of school counseling.

References

Gysbers, N. C. (n.d.)Embrace the past, welcome the future: A brief history of school counseling. University of Missouri – Columbia. Adapted from Gysbers, N. C. (2010), Remembering the past, shaping the future: A history of school counseling. Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association. Retrieved from: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/52aaab9f-39ae-4fd0-8387-1d9c10b9ccb8/History-of-School-Counseling.pdf