Working Together
Preventive and developmental counseling helps students cope with the stresses and pressures that affect their personal development and academic performance.
In theory, the School Counseling Department does distinguish between counseling (dealing with such personal matters as emotional issues or social adjustment problems) and advising (academic matters). In practice, our approach is more holistic.
Although each counselor’s primary responsibility is counseling and advising, the department works collaboratively with the principal, vice-principal for academics, vice-principal for student life, deans, teachers, parents, and other school personnel to ensure continuity and effectiveness in dealing with the whole student.
The Role of School Counselors
Counseling is a process of helping in which the school counselor provides a safe, nurturing environment. By establishing a trusting, confidential working relationship, students can share their feelings and develop positive solutions to personal issues. Often, the focus is on problem-solving, decision-making, and discovering personal meaning related to learning and development. Parents, teachers, administrators, and students can initiate a referral to the school counselor.
The school counselor is an advocate for students. This advocacy takes many forms, including:
- Listening to students, assessing their needs, and developing realistic interventions.
- Helping students cope with emotional pressures, set goals, and become responsible young adults.
- Helping students understand and accept their capabilities and limitations.
- Assisting students with transition issues and helping them get acclimated to La Salle Academy.
- Making appropriate internal and external referrals.
Confidentiality
An important obligation of school counselors is to maintain the confidentiality of their students. School counselors are obliged not to disclose information that a student has shared, within the context of the counseling relationship, unless such disclosures are necessary to protect the student from posing a serious threat to him/herself or others.