What does a School Counselor do?
School counselors work in all levels of the school system to support the social, emotional and academic well-being of students. As a school counselor, you will collaborate with school and school district staff to help students succeed in all aspects of their lives. This can be helping students through social and emotional challenges or liaising with other agencies and organizations outside the school. You may also help students with course planning and applying for post-secondary education.
A master's degree is necessary for those wanting to work as a school counselor. This is generally required to be in counseling, but may also be in social work. You must also be sensitive to others' needs, have strong organizational and interpersonal skills and be able to recognize when and what type of intervention is needed.
- respond effectively to crises affecting students and faculty
- provide mental health and behavioral counseling to students
- recognize and appropriately take care of individual students' socio-emotional challenges
- submit referrals to outside agencies as necessary for students' well-being
- coordinate and facilitate groups for students, such as for improving social skills or addressing behavioral challenges
- complete regular reports for services provided, such as session notes and incident reports
- collaborate with teaching staff to determine how best to meet individual students' needs
- work with school faculty and staff to develop plans for maintaining the well-being of individual students and of the student population as a whole
- master's degree in counseling
- knowledge of multiple counseling approaches
- proficiency in the use of word processing and spreadsheet applications
- familiarity with online learning platforms
- 3+ years of experience working as a counselor with youth
- excellent verbal and written communication skills
- empathy and sensitivity to others' needs
- strong interpersonal skills
- creativity, enthusiasm, and dedication
School Counselor Salaries
Average Base Pay
School Counselor Career Path
Learn how to become a School Counselor, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Average Years of Experience
School Counselor Insights
Methodist Children's Home Society“My supervisor is receptive to feedback and makes sure I understand what is expected of me.”
Northside Independent School District“Not as stressful as being an actual teacher but at the end of the day you’re glad to go home.”
SMA Healthcare“It felt really impactful and I appreciated the training we were given and the policies in place to outline good boundaries.”
Penn State“Everyone I worked with was super nice and helpful”
ComPsych“We did get an hour of lunch which was nice but I always thought companies had to allow for 15 minute breaks.”
The Arbutus Club“The other staff does not treat you well and this is primarily based on your experience working in this position.”
“Here it is possible to work for so many years and go for retirement as a counsellor.”
Cambridge Consulting Network“Learned a lot from the consulting project and I think it is beneficial to my future career.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of a School Counselor
- Counselor
- Therapist
- Social Worker
- Aba Therapist