If you were to look at the job description for a school counselor, you would see that their role in the school is to provide academic and emotional support.
While it sounds simple, there is so much more that goes into this.
Add a case load of more than 75 students and then add other administrative duties they may have. How are they supposed to keep up?
While child and adolescent depression and pervasive anxiety are on the rise in the United States, very few counties have been able to keep up.
School counselors are overburdened and cannot provide the care necessary for their students.
Academic support often includes:
- going over course schedules
- reviewing 504 Plans and Individualized Education Plans (IEP)
- helping students prepare for standardized tests, preparing for college etc.
and — on top of all of that — they are:
- expected to provide emotional support.
This is nearly impossible and is certainly not sustainable over the course of the year.
For some relief, more school counselors are looking to their community for help.
Private providers can provide focused therapy to help alleviate and eventually eliminate presence of mental health issues and other issues that may impact their academic performance and more importantly, their overall wellness.
Fairfax County Public Schools have done a fantastic job in teaming up with outside providers in the community.
As a result, students can focus on social/academic aspects of school and also have a therapist that is accessible and capable of providing the necessary intervention for mental health and other emotional needs.
Parents, if you suspect that your child is suffering from emotional stress, look to your community.
Many school counselors have referral lists and often can get an appointment scheduled within the same day or following day. Early intervention is paramount and providing the necessary support and attention to the issues is most important, especially for our youth.
Have questions or concerns about issues related to your children or youth? Do you need to augment your child’s support beyond what their school counselor can provide?
Please contact our counseling team to get additional help and support for school-aged children.