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What Is a Typical Day for a School Counselor?

Image of counselor for our FAQ What is a Typical Day for a School Counselor?

In this article, we’ll examine what a day in the life of a school counselor looks like. If you want to find out more about this career, just keep reading.

There is quite a long list of professions that have the central goal of helping students achieve lasting success, both in the classroom and in their everyday lives. This list includes classroom teachers, special education teachers, principals, school administrators, and many others. Almost everyone would consider school counselors to be near the very top of the list of professionals whose primary goal is to walk alongside students as they learn and grow, helping them to reach their goals and prepare for successful lives after graduation. School counselors have the opportunity to play a unique and vital role in the growth of students.

Many people who are interested in pursuing this career may wonder,”What do school counselors do?” The truth is that there is truly a large degree of variation in what a school counselor may be asked to do on any given day. So much of the job description depends on the particular needs of a student or a group of students. Many different factors, including home life and demographics, will help to determine what kind of issues a school counselor is most likely to face.

Additionally, school counselors may work with many different age groups of students (preschool, elementary, or high school students) in order to help them in their academic life, as well as in their emotional and mental life. These duties include (but are not limited to) creating academic plans, managing learning disabilities, and navigating and working through difficult personal situations. School counselors have a lot of different duties, and every work day is slightly different. On any given work day, a counselor may prepare and present lessons, attend meetings, field questions, contact parents and guardians, and counsel individual students. It is safe to say that school counselors should expect the unexpected when they go into work.

Conduct Assessments and Evaluations

An image of a school counselor conducting an assessment for a young student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

The majority of a counselor’s workday will usually be centered around the unique needs of individual students. School counselors are frequently relied upon by their schools to conduct various assessments on individual students.  It is more and more common for students to have individualized learning plans to provide them with the best possible education, as well as a support system. School counselors play a vital role in both initiating and maintaining these assessments. The assessments may be academic, such as placement tests for students who show gifted abilities in reading or mathematics. The counselors may also be responsible for assessments that are related to a learning disability, such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A student’s emotional or mental health issues may require either assessments or adjustments of a child’s educational track. Learning to evaluate these assessments and plans, and then make the appropriate adjustments and plans for each student, is a very important part of the counselor’s job. Additionally, school counselors may need to conduct evaluations and identify issues that could affect a student’s academic performance, including excessive absenteeism or tardiness. Identifying these issues and subsequently coming up with a plan to help the student overcome them is an important part of the job description. 

Support Special Education Students

An image of a school counselor working with a special education student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

As stated earlier, school counselors play an invaluable role in the lives of special education students and their families. The IEP, or individualized education program, has become the foundation for education and forward progress in the lives of more and more students. It is often the job of the counselor to work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to effectively implement an IEP so that each student can achieve his or her full potential. Many times, counselors will need to educate other staff members on a particular student’s need and diagnosis, so that they can work as a team to provide the best support system possible for the student.

More and more children are receiving diagnoses on the autism spectrum disorder, and a school counselor will likely need to be educated on autism so that they can, in turn, help others understand the challenges that students on the spectrum may face. Many children on the spectrum face social challenges, so it may be the job of the counselor to keep a close watch on students who have a higher risk of being bullied or mistreated by peers. There are times when a counselor may need to take the lead in educating others about a particular student’s situation. Communication with a child’s support system is a vital part of the success of special education students.  

Meet With Teachers, Parents, and Administrators

An image of a school counselor meeting with a student and parent for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

Meetings, of various kinds, are another one of the primary daily activities for school counselors. Many of these meetings are with the teachers, and these are usually related to specific students and their particular needs. A counselor and teacher may meet in order to discuss a particular student’s behavior in the classroom. Teachers may also have concerns about the outside influences on a student, which inevitably make their way into the classroom. Good communication with coworkers is of great importance to a school counselor, as the teachers’ classroom observations are instrumental in a counselor’s assessment. School counselors spend limited time in the classroom, which means that the day-to-day observations of the teachers are very often the way that students are referred to the counselor in the first place.

Parents and guardians also may be brought in to meet with school counselors. Their participation is invaluable for the resolution of the many difficult issues that students face. Some of the more common issues that require meetings with parents include problematic classroom behaviors, adjustments to academic plans, and bullying. Parent meetings related to bullying could be either with the parents of the child who is doing the bullying, or sometimes those of the victim in a bullying situation. Finally, administrators and counselors may meet together in order to discuss initiatives or programs performed by the counselor for the school as a whole. For example, they may work together in order to implement an anti-bullying campaign for students in all grades.

Counsel Individual Students

An image of a school counselor talking to a young student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

The students in the school are the primary focus of a school counselor’s activities, so it should be expected that the counselor may spend a considerable part of each day counseling individual students. They will sometimes meet with students regarding academic problems or successes. They will often also need to check in with students in order to monitor the progress made in learning objectives or to check in on their grades. Students can often request meetings with a school counselor, so it is likely necessary for the counselor to leave some allotted time within the workweek to address any particular needs that may arise.

At the junior high and high school level, school counselors will often meet with students as they choose their class schedule. Once class choices are an option, picking the right classes can make a big difference for the student, and their guidance counselor has the unique opportunity to guide them in their choices based on both their interests and their career goals. At the high school level, counselors will often meet with an individual student in order to help them with decisions regarding possible career paths. These career-focused meetings would include information about applying for vocational school or college admission, as well as about investigating other options such as military service or apprenticeships.  

Prepare and Present Group Presentations

An image of a school counselor working with a group of students for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

Counselors will occasionally meet with entire classes in order to educate the students as a group about various issues. Counselors will need to plan on spending a portion of their workday preparing for these presentations. The preparation may include studying the content, planning activities, and printing and preparing any handouts they may plan to use in their class. The content of these meetings will obviously greatly differ based on the age and maturity level of the students to whom they are presenting information. In an elementary school setting, a counselor may present information on topics such as stranger safety, abuse of various forms, bullying, or a variety of other social issues. Counselors will sometimes present information to a classroom or a grade, but they may also occasionally need to present information to a larger group of students, in a setting such as an assembly. For older grades, counselors will likely present informational seminars or classes for topics such as self-esteem, eating disorders, sexual abuse, or other relevant social issues.  

Serve as Mandated Reporters and Make Resource Referrals

An image of a school counselor taking notes while talking with young student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, school counselors are mandated reporters for law enforcement purposes. What this means is that if a school counselor finds out that a student is experiencing any form of abuse or neglect at home, the counselor is then required to report it to local law enforcement. If the student reports abuse from a teacher, the counselor must also report this to the authorities. If a student explains or infers that their family does not have enough food at home, it often becomes the responsibility of a school counselor to provide a referral for the student or their family to visit a food pantry or to enroll in some form of social services. A student who is unable to afford school supplies or funds for school trips may be provided with additional resource referrals by the counselor.

Maintain Open Lines of Communication

An image of a school counselor meeting with teenaged student in office for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

Maintaining active, healthy lines of communication is an essential part of the job description for school counselors. This will often require the counselor to set aside time each day to respond to emails, make and return phone calls, and even pursue conversations with teachers and school administrators. The counselor works as an advocate for the student, so their willingness to consistently engage in dialogue concerning the well-being of the student is a vital part of the job description of a school counselor. Counselors may sometimes need to engage in conversation with other mental health professionals, such as social workers or therapists, who are also working to seek the best interests of each child. It is common for a student’s situation to be constantly evolving, so the counselor needs to be willing to maintain healthy lines of communication with all participating parties in any given student’s support system. This ensures that each student is receiving the best possible help. 

Be Ready and Willing to Listen 

Image of school counselor talking with teenaged student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

Although much of the job description for a school counselor centers around planning, advocating, and initiating communication, it is also essential for a school counselor to be prepared to listen. Anyone who enters the counseling profession knows the importance of each client being heard, and this is no different in a school setting. When students feel heard and understood, they will be much more likely to be honest with the counselor, and also more likely to trust them. This can often be the first stepping stone in the process of pursuing and ultimately achieving the academic, social, and personal goals set up for each individual student.  

Conclusion

School counselors serve an essential function in the school system, and it takes a special person to serve as a school counselor. They make it easier for teachers to do their jobs, and they facilitate a healthy and productive learning environment. Counselors need to be intuitive when it comes to individual students and what makes their situation unique. Willingness to enter into various situations, some more difficult than others, is part of the job description. The goal of a school counselor is ultimately to help each child succeed, and the joy of seeing a student excel is certainly worth it. 

Knowing about what a typical day for a school counselor is makes it easier for a person to decide whether or not this is the right career path for them, based on their personal strengths and preferences. Some professions may offer a much more predictable schedule, but few professions can have a more lasting impact on both students and families than that of a school counselor.  

ABADP Staff

February 2022

Related Resources:

This concludes our article on what a school counselor’s day is like.

Image of counselor for our FAQ What is a Typical Day for a School Counselor?

In this article, we’ll examine what a day in the life of a school counselor looks like. If you want to find out more about this career, just keep reading.

There is quite a long list of professions that have the central goal of helping students achieve lasting success, both in the classroom and in their everyday lives. This list includes classroom teachers, special education teachers, principals, school administrators, and many others. Almost everyone would consider school counselors to be near the very top of the list of professionals whose primary goal is to walk alongside students as they learn and grow, helping them to reach their goals and prepare for successful lives after graduation. School counselors have the opportunity to play a unique and vital role in the growth of students.

Many people who are interested in pursuing this career may wonder,”What do school counselors do?” The truth is that there is truly a large degree of variation in what a school counselor may be asked to do on any given day. So much of the job description depends on the particular needs of a student or a group of students. Many different factors, including home life and demographics, will help to determine what kind of issues a school counselor is most likely to face.

Additionally, school counselors may work with many different age groups of students (preschool, elementary, or high school students) in order to help them in their academic life, as well as in their emotional and mental life. These duties include (but are not limited to) creating academic plans, managing learning disabilities, and navigating and working through difficult personal situations. School counselors have a lot of different duties, and every work day is slightly different. On any given work day, a counselor may prepare and present lessons, attend meetings, field questions, contact parents and guardians, and counsel individual students. It is safe to say that school counselors should expect the unexpected when they go into work.

Conduct Assessments and Evaluations

An image of a school counselor conducting an assessment for a young student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

The majority of a counselor’s workday will usually be centered around the unique needs of individual students. School counselors are frequently relied upon by their schools to conduct various assessments on individual students.  It is more and more common for students to have individualized learning plans to provide them with the best possible education, as well as a support system. School counselors play a vital role in both initiating and maintaining these assessments. The assessments may be academic, such as placement tests for students who show gifted abilities in reading or mathematics. The counselors may also be responsible for assessments that are related to a learning disability, such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A student’s emotional or mental health issues may require either assessments or adjustments of a child’s educational track. Learning to evaluate these assessments and plans, and then make the appropriate adjustments and plans for each student, is a very important part of the counselor’s job. Additionally, school counselors may need to conduct evaluations and identify issues that could affect a student’s academic performance, including excessive absenteeism or tardiness. Identifying these issues and subsequently coming up with a plan to help the student overcome them is an important part of the job description. 

Support Special Education Students

An image of a school counselor working with a special education student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

As stated earlier, school counselors play an invaluable role in the lives of special education students and their families. The IEP, or individualized education program, has become the foundation for education and forward progress in the lives of more and more students. It is often the job of the counselor to work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to effectively implement an IEP so that each student can achieve his or her full potential. Many times, counselors will need to educate other staff members on a particular student’s need and diagnosis, so that they can work as a team to provide the best support system possible for the student.

More and more children are receiving diagnoses on the autism spectrum disorder, and a school counselor will likely need to be educated on autism so that they can, in turn, help others understand the challenges that students on the spectrum may face. Many children on the spectrum face social challenges, so it may be the job of the counselor to keep a close watch on students who have a higher risk of being bullied or mistreated by peers. There are times when a counselor may need to take the lead in educating others about a particular student’s situation. Communication with a child’s support system is a vital part of the success of special education students.  

Meet With Teachers, Parents, and Administrators

An image of a school counselor meeting with a student and parent for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

Meetings, of various kinds, are another one of the primary daily activities for school counselors. Many of these meetings are with the teachers, and these are usually related to specific students and their particular needs. A counselor and teacher may meet in order to discuss a particular student’s behavior in the classroom. Teachers may also have concerns about the outside influences on a student, which inevitably make their way into the classroom. Good communication with coworkers is of great importance to a school counselor, as the teachers’ classroom observations are instrumental in a counselor’s assessment. School counselors spend limited time in the classroom, which means that the day-to-day observations of the teachers are very often the way that students are referred to the counselor in the first place.

Parents and guardians also may be brought in to meet with school counselors. Their participation is invaluable for the resolution of the many difficult issues that students face. Some of the more common issues that require meetings with parents include problematic classroom behaviors, adjustments to academic plans, and bullying. Parent meetings related to bullying could be either with the parents of the child who is doing the bullying, or sometimes those of the victim in a bullying situation. Finally, administrators and counselors may meet together in order to discuss initiatives or programs performed by the counselor for the school as a whole. For example, they may work together in order to implement an anti-bullying campaign for students in all grades.

Counsel Individual Students

An image of a school counselor talking to a young student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

The students in the school are the primary focus of a school counselor’s activities, so it should be expected that the counselor may spend a considerable part of each day counseling individual students. They will sometimes meet with students regarding academic problems or successes. They will often also need to check in with students in order to monitor the progress made in learning objectives or to check in on their grades. Students can often request meetings with a school counselor, so it is likely necessary for the counselor to leave some allotted time within the workweek to address any particular needs that may arise.

At the junior high and high school level, school counselors will often meet with students as they choose their class schedule. Once class choices are an option, picking the right classes can make a big difference for the student, and their guidance counselor has the unique opportunity to guide them in their choices based on both their interests and their career goals. At the high school level, counselors will often meet with an individual student in order to help them with decisions regarding possible career paths. These career-focused meetings would include information about applying for vocational school or college admission, as well as about investigating other options such as military service or apprenticeships.  

Prepare and Present Group Presentations

An image of a school counselor working with a group of students for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

Counselors will occasionally meet with entire classes in order to educate the students as a group about various issues. Counselors will need to plan on spending a portion of their workday preparing for these presentations. The preparation may include studying the content, planning activities, and printing and preparing any handouts they may plan to use in their class. The content of these meetings will obviously greatly differ based on the age and maturity level of the students to whom they are presenting information. In an elementary school setting, a counselor may present information on topics such as stranger safety, abuse of various forms, bullying, or a variety of other social issues. Counselors will sometimes present information to a classroom or a grade, but they may also occasionally need to present information to a larger group of students, in a setting such as an assembly. For older grades, counselors will likely present informational seminars or classes for topics such as self-esteem, eating disorders, sexual abuse, or other relevant social issues.  

Serve as Mandated Reporters and Make Resource Referrals

An image of a school counselor taking notes while talking with young student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, school counselors are mandated reporters for law enforcement purposes. What this means is that if a school counselor finds out that a student is experiencing any form of abuse or neglect at home, the counselor is then required to report it to local law enforcement. If the student reports abuse from a teacher, the counselor must also report this to the authorities. If a student explains or infers that their family does not have enough food at home, it often becomes the responsibility of a school counselor to provide a referral for the student or their family to visit a food pantry or to enroll in some form of social services. A student who is unable to afford school supplies or funds for school trips may be provided with additional resource referrals by the counselor.

Maintain Open Lines of Communication

An image of a school counselor meeting with teenaged student in office for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

Maintaining active, healthy lines of communication is an essential part of the job description for school counselors. This will often require the counselor to set aside time each day to respond to emails, make and return phone calls, and even pursue conversations with teachers and school administrators. The counselor works as an advocate for the student, so their willingness to consistently engage in dialogue concerning the well-being of the student is a vital part of the job description of a school counselor. Counselors may sometimes need to engage in conversation with other mental health professionals, such as social workers or therapists, who are also working to seek the best interests of each child. It is common for a student’s situation to be constantly evolving, so the counselor needs to be willing to maintain healthy lines of communication with all participating parties in any given student’s support system. This ensures that each student is receiving the best possible help. 

Be Ready and Willing to Listen 

Image of school counselor talking with teenaged student for our FAQ article on what a school counselor does

Although much of the job description for a school counselor centers around planning, advocating, and initiating communication, it is also essential for a school counselor to be prepared to listen. Anyone who enters the counseling profession knows the importance of each client being heard, and this is no different in a school setting. When students feel heard and understood, they will be much more likely to be honest with the counselor, and also more likely to trust them. This can often be the first stepping stone in the process of pursuing and ultimately achieving the academic, social, and personal goals set up for each individual student.  

Conclusion

School counselors serve an essential function in the school system, and it takes a special person to serve as a school counselor. They make it easier for teachers to do their jobs, and they facilitate a healthy and productive learning environment. Counselors need to be intuitive when it comes to individual students and what makes their situation unique. Willingness to enter into various situations, some more difficult than others, is part of the job description. The goal of a school counselor is ultimately to help each child succeed, and the joy of seeing a student excel is certainly worth it. 

Knowing about what a typical day for a school counselor is makes it easier for a person to decide whether or not this is the right career path for them, based on their personal strengths and preferences. Some professions may offer a much more predictable schedule, but few professions can have a more lasting impact on both students and families than that of a school counselor.  

ABADP Staff

February 2022

Related Resources:

This concludes our article on what a school counselor’s day is like.