School counselors in the Guilford County Schools work with students, parents, and school staff members to help facilitate school success by providing a range of services. 

School counselors at all levels provide counseling to individuals and in small groups.  They also work in classrooms to help students learn about issues that are important to them.

There are four main goals for school counseling in North Carolina as set by the Department of Public Instruction.  The four goals for all students are:

• Demonstrate a positive attitude toward self as a unique and worthy person.
• Gain life-planning skills that are consistent with needs, interests, and abilities.
• Develop responsible social skills and an understanding and appreciation of being a contributing member of society.
• Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the life-long process of learning, growing, and changing.

There are approximately 190 school counselors in the Guilford County Schools.  All schools in the system with the exception of one small elementary school have at least one full-time counselor; that school has one-half of a counseling position.  Middle and high schools and larger elementary schools have additional counselors based on size.

School counselors in Guilford County have master’s degrees in counseling and are licensed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.  Many of them are National Certified Counselors, National Certified School Counselors, and National Board Certified Teachers.  Quite a few are also licensed by the state of North Carolina as Licensed Professional Counselors.  As part of their 48 to 60 hour master’s programs and through continuing education, school counselors have specialized training in child development, career planning, and suicide and crisis intervention.

Additional information on school counseling in the state can be found at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/schoolimprovement/alternative/counseling/