What does a school counselor do?  That’s a good question and the answer is that it depends on what you need.

Who hasn’t felt that the pressures of school were enough to make you explode?  Deadlines and parental pressure alone are daunting. Combine that with the fact that your best friend is mad at you because you said something that totally came out wrong because you didn’t sleep well last night and you were grouchy this morning because you got up late and your uniform was laying in the floor, right where you left it, but now it is all wrinkled and looks like you slept in it.  Oh wait, you did sleep in it because you stayed up late doing your science project that is due today which you totally should have started working on earlier, but you procrastinated and your parents are always criticizing you for procrastinating and maybe they are right. You are a procrastinator and you deserve the low marks you get because you just can’t seem to do better. Now you’ll never get into a university and you’ll be a loser your whole life.  Not to mention that you didn’t have any breakfast because you almost missed the bus and you are so hungry you could eat your sweater and lunch isn’t until 13:00 and it’s only 8:30. Although I can’t do your science project for you and I am not about to do your laundry, I can be a sympathetic ear and remind you that all of these things are temporary and maybe I can even let your parents know that you are trying as hard as you can to live up to their expectations and you own and maybe that you could use a little help with setting small deadlines for yourself so that you don’t get overwhelmed with the big deadlines.

All of that is normal, right?  No big deal, but it can be frustrating to say the least.  And, when you add in other stressors that have been stacking up, it can be more than you can deal with.  

There are much bigger issues that you may have to face, which are much more serious.  You know these things, you hear about them every day. Substance abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, cyber-bullying, peer-pressure, health issues...the list goes on and on.  These things are difficult for adults to deal with, they can have horrendous effects on a young person that shoulders these burdens alone.  

That’s where I come in.  I help you shoulder your burdens so you don’t have to do it alone.  

• Listen to students’ concerns about academic, emotional or social problems

• Help students process their problems and plan goals and action

• Mediate conflict between students and teachers

• Improve parent/teacher relationships

• Assist with college applications, jobs and scholarships

• Facilitate drug and alcohol prevention programs

• Organize peer counseling programs

• Refer students to psychologists and other mental health resources

• Work on academic boards to improve learning conditions