School Counseling Philosophy
As a counselor, it is my mission to foster students’ development and growth within the academic, career, and personal/social domains. This broad responsibility dictates a multifaceted role for the counselor, one wherein I am expected not only to support students, but also to facilitate a healthy environment for teachers and the school as a whole. By acting as an ally and an advocate for students, I work to increase their self-esteem and self-efficacy and, in turn, reinforce the school’s mission and the work of the teachers. My approach is to foster individualized connections with students specific to their unique emotional, developmental, and learning modalities. As I build an alliance with each student, I am better able to formulate the best approach to changing any negative perceptions they might have of themselves, helping to replace any “I can’t!” tendencies with an increased awareness of their own unique abilities and talents, while teaching them new interpersonal skills and coping strategies to deal with life’s challenges.
As a counselor, it is my mission to foster students’ development and growth within the academic, career, and personal/social domains. This broad responsibility dictates a multifaceted role for the counselor, one wherein I am expected not only to support students, but also to facilitate a healthy environment for teachers and the school as a whole. By acting as an ally and an advocate for students, I work to increase their self-esteem and self-efficacy and, in turn, reinforce the school’s mission and the work of the teachers. My approach is to foster individualized connections with students specific to their unique emotional, developmental, and learning modalities. As I build an alliance with each student, I am better able to formulate the best approach to changing any negative perceptions they might have of themselves, helping to replace any “I can’t!” tendencies with an increased awareness of their own unique abilities and talents, while teaching them new interpersonal skills and coping strategies to deal with life’s challenges.
- Following the models provided by the American School Counselor Association and Oregon's TSPC, I work diligently as a Professional School Counselor to ensure that I:
- Act as an advocate, ally, and resource to promote the safety, positive growth and development of every student while fostering self-esteem, self-efficacy, and academic achievement.
- Utilize data gathered through surveys and action research to develop and implement comprehensive guidance plans which promote social and emotional development.
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to develop and establish programs appropriate for individual, group and family counseling.
- Use interpersonal skills to successfully collaborate with others and communicate with community members.
- Take action to promote and practice the group process, crisis resolution, anger management, and the prevention of violence in schools to ensure a safe and peaceful learning community in the school.
- Operate consistently utilizing the highest ethical standards adhering those specific legal guidelines unique to counseling.
- Have readily available information regarding resources and agencies available to students and families, while working in collaboration with social service agencies in continued support of students and their families.
- Work with teachers and administration to develop school to work and career planning as guided by the National Career Development Guidelines and the Career Related Standards.
- Assist staff in coordinating curriculum around guidance activities.
- Utilize assessments and accurately interpret assessment data as it relates to academic, career counseling and personal/social development.
- Work within the school to assist students in goal setting, learning skills, and to facilitate the development of self-directed learners.
- Ensure advocacy for equality, fair treatment, education, and opportunity for all students, and the creation or and support for programs that celebrate diversity, promote respect of individual differences and effective human relationships.
- Work together with school staff, families and community members in order to meet individual student needs.
- Help staff to better understand how to meet the students where they are and what their specific needs may be in relation to Section 504, Individual Education Plans, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Title 10, and the McKinney-Vento Act.
- Build an alliance with individual students and small groups to successfully create the relationship necessary to foster the students sense of being heard and understood in order to facilitate the trust necessary to work collaboratively with them in support of their own personal social/emotional/academic growth and development.