About Counseling

School counselors assist students of all levels and advocate for students. School counselors help students evaluate their abilities, interest, talents, and personalities to develop realistic academic and career goals. Counselors use interviews, counseling sessions and other methods to evaluate and advise students. Often, counselors work with students who have academic and social development problems or other special needs; however, in that context, they emphasize preventive and developmental counseling to provide students with the life skills needed to deal with problems before they worsen and to enhance students’ personal, social and academic growth.

Revamping the more formal aspects of counseling leaves a more workable solution for students, parents and teachers in dealing with the problems that interfere with the successful transition from elementary to middle school. The critical issues necessary for successful transition to high school may include reviewing past and present performance in light of the criteria necessary to be competitive in the modern high school. Meeting with parents, teachers and students to develop realistic plans for success is one of the major goals for a middle school counselor.

Meetings to review past and present academic performance are valuable to the gifted students as well as the marginally successful student. Success is often achieved thru a cooperative effort between the counselor and the graduation coach. They prepare all of the necessary materials for a comprehensive academic makeover with the student and their parents. The academic makeover involves both the student and their family in developing workable plans that help students be prepared for success in high school.