What is School Counseling?
Philosophy
The school counselors at Lower Merion School District believe:
- All of our students have dignity, worth, and deserve mutual respect
- All of our students have access to the school counseling program
- Our school counseling curriculum considers the special needs and all ethnic, racial, sexual, and gender differences of our students
- All students K through 12 should have access to a full-time, state certified, master's-degree-level school counselor to deliver the school counseling curriculum
Our comprehensive school counseling program at Lower Merion School District will:
- Be based on specified goals and developmental student competencies for grades K through 12
- Be planned and coordinated by school counseling staff with input from other school, families, and community representatives
- Incorporate community resources
- Be evaluated and developed by using measurable data
- Actively involve counseling representatives to monitor students' outcomes and progress
We will maintain a strong ethical foundation that protects our students and their families by:
- Abiding by the professional school counseling code of ethics as advocated by the American School Counselor Association
- Participating in professional development activities essential to maintain a quality school counseling program
The school counselors at Lower Merion School District envision that all students will become knowledgeable in a rapidly changing global community.
Mission Statement
Lower Merion School District's mission is to provide access for all students to a comprehensive school guidance and counseling program which is research based, data driven, and reflects the individual developmental needs of our students. Our professional school counselors work in collaboration with families and other staff and community members. School counselors advocate for an environment that promotes diversity and equity and provide a continuum of services through a comprehensive school guidance and counseling program for all students in grades K through 12. School counselors implement programs for systemic change in our schools based upon the recommended competencies suggested for all students, with the goal of developing students into open-minded, tolerant, curious, resilient, and self-advocating individuals. Through exposure to the school guidance and counseling program, students will experience growth within the three domains of: academic achievement, personal/social development, and career awareness, as recommended by the American School Counselor Association.
Goals & Objectives
How does a comprehensive school counseling program deliver its content?
- Guidance Curriculum- Provides guidance content in a systematic way to all students.
- Individual Planning-Assists students in goal setting, planning, and monitoring future plans.
- Responsive Services-Address the immediate concerns of students. These concerns may require counseling, mediation, and/or referral.
- System Support- Includes program, staff and school support activities and services
What services and programs does our school counseling program offer?
Each level of education offers programming/curriculum that is developmentally appropriate for the school. Some of the shared services that are offered K-12 include, but are not limited to:
- Counseling (individual and group)
- Consultation with teachers, administrators, and families in order to plan and implement strategies for student success
- Coordination of the school counseling program, which includes organizing, managing, delivering, and evaluating the school counseling program and curriculum
- Collaboration with school psychologist and school social worker to assists families in obtaining needed services through referrals to outside agencies.
Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of counselors.