An individual’s school years often shape the rest of his or her life. Adolescent and teenage years often fall in the school years bracket. The two stages are the most crucial in forming a responsible adult. It is during the school years that an individual develops a personality as well as expanding their social life. The period is characterized by making and breaking of friendships, the anxiety of performing well in the examinations and peer influence. A student has to find a balance among all this, and it often becomes stressful. The stress may take a toll on the academic and social performance of a student hence the need of counseling. Guidance and counseling department is essential in any learning institution since it plays a critical role in helping students make the best of their learning. It is therefore imperative to have an overview of school counseling as a career.
Description
School counseling is intensive in helping students attain their educational objectives. The professionals who work in this field are referred to as school counselors or guidance counselors. School counselors have some duties and responsibilities in a learning institution.
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First, school counselors are responsible for the evaluation of a student’s skills, talents and career goals. The counselor can do this by assessing the strengths, weaknesses, and interests of a student. This enables the counselor to offer valuable career advice to the student based on their skills and talents. However, the counselor should learn of a student’s career goals before giving their opinion on the matter. Secondly, counselors have the responsibility of monitoring the behavioral, mental and emotional progress of the students. For instance, the counselors must help those students who have been victims of both physical and verbal abuse in school and at home. Such students may have psychological problems which may affect their academics. The counselors should, therefore, help them overcome such issues and excel in their performance. Thirdly, counselors are responsible for monitoring the academic performance of students and identify the underlying problems that may be affecting the students’ performance. The counselors also keep close contact with parents so that they can discuss issues to do with their children.
School counseling as a career was first introduced in the United States in the 18 th century during the industrial revolution. Since then, the field has seen tremendous growth and has become a vital part of the education sector. School counseling is related to other occupations such as child abuse counselors, army mental health specialists and counselors, community mental health counselors among others. The field may also be associated in the broader perspective to other sectors such as psychology and therapy.
Qualifications
An individual who wishes to pursue a career in school counseling should acquire a bachelor’s degree in psychology or counseling. Upon completion of a bachelor’s degree, an individual should complete a school counseling internship according to the state's requirements. A person should then pass the state’s exams for school counselors and apply for a counselor’s license. An individual may decide to advance in the career by pursuing a master’s degree and eventually a PhD in the same field.
In addition to academic qualifications, a school counselor should possess some crucial skills. For instance, a school counselor should have excellent listening and communication skills (Astramovich, 2017). The skills enable the counselor to relate to the students and the parents regardless of their age, background and social status. The skills can only be acquired through practice hence a prior experience in a related field would equip the school counselor with essential skills to execute his or her duties and responsibilities.
Advancement and Outlook
The school counseling career has several advancement opportunities. For instance, a school counselor can advance into private practice and consulting. The counselors can also advance into college teaching after pursuing a doctorate or PhD degrees in their field. Also, school counselors can push into director roles in the counseling departments where they set a curriculum for counselors. The counselors can even venture into psychologist roles and school administrator career in the school setup.
School counseling career has a high turnover rate of about 60% according to the Bureau of labor statistics. This means that almost 60% of new employees in the field leave within two years of working. This is attributed to the growth in the area and the numerous advancement opportunities available. The employment opportunities in school counseling are expected to grow with about 13% by the year 2026. This growth is expected to favor the school counselors with a master’s degree. The master’s degree holders will have more secure jobs in the field. The growth can be attributed to the executive legislation that aims to increase the number of counselors in learning institutions with the objective of increasing college attendance among vulnerable students.
The major organizations that offer employment opportunities to school counselors are the learning institutions. The organizations range from elementary schools, high schools, colleges, universities and other tertiary learning institutions. However, opportunities may also be available in mental health facilities and hospitals especially for those individuals seeking to advance in their career.
Salaries and Benefits
A school counselor’s annual salary depends on factors such as their education level. According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the annual salary of a school counselor ranges between $45, 093 to $55,410. The pay varies with where an individual is working. For instance, a high school counselor typically earns more than an elementary school counselor.
A career in school counseling has its benefits. First, it gives an individual the opportunity to shape the lives of the young generation to become responsible adult citizens. Also, the career has offers a chance for ample vacation time since the counselors do not work over the school holidays. This gives the counselors time to unwind and spend quality time with their families. The career also has numerous career advancement opportunities.
Works Cited
Astramovich, R. L. (2017). Program Evaluation Interest and Skills of School Counselors (Featured Research). Professional School Counseling, 20(1), 54-64.https://doi.org/10.5330%2F1096-2409-20.1.54
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, School and Career Counselors, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm (visited November 08, 2018).
