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School Counseling Policies and Procedures

2020-2021

Professional School Counseling Program

A Professional School Counseling Program is:

 Comprehensive in scope, preventative in design, developmental in nature, and focuses on

personal/social, academic, career, and global development.
 Designed to ensure that every student benefits from the program.
 Conducted in collaboration with teachers, administrators, parents/guardians, and other support
service professionals in order to meet student needs.
 An integral part of the educational program and implemented by certified/licensed educators with
minimum of a Master’s degree in School Counseling.

The Student Counselor’s Role

The professional school counselor has a minimum of a Master’s degree in school counseling, and has
special qualifications and skills to address students’ academic, personal /social, and career development
needs. They uphold the ethical and professional standards of TLGC and other applicable professional
counseling association.

The professional school counselor:

 Supports a safe student learning environment.

 Addresses the needs of all students through prevention and intervention program that are part of a
comprehensive school counseling program.
 Collaborates with other key stakeholders to promote under achievement and development.
 Helps to create a welcoming, inclusive school climate.
 Proactively serves as an advocate for all students.
 Serves a crucial role in maximizing student achievement as well as personal/social and career
development.
 Promotes equity and access to opportunities and educational experience for all students.
 Abides by TLGC’s professional school counseling ethics.
 Engages in relevant professional development.

Ethical Standards for School Counselors

These standards clarify the common ethical responsibilities held by school counseling professionals and
serve to inform stakeholders of acceptable counselor practices and expected professional behavior.

 Adhere to the proper safekeeping of confidential student records.

 Have a duty and responsibility to the students we serve.
What do TLGC School Counselors program is to:

Academic Development
The school counselor understands the learning process and academic environment and develops progress
and interventions that promote the achievement of all students.

TLGC School Counselor:

 Consult with teachers, administrators, and parents concerning the academic needs of students.
 Consult with the Office of the Student Affairs to ensure that all students are provided with the
best opportunities to succeed academically in school, as well as ensuring that students’
instructional needs are being supported appropriately.
 Provide support to all students to allow for academic success.

Issues pertaining to academic progress may result in a team meeting involving the educational
professionals involved with the students. The Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) collaborates and
consults with parents, teachers and other school personnel on the development, implementation, and
monitoring of strategies and accommodations for the purpose of improving academic achievement.

Career Development
The school counselor is knowledgeable about the world of work, career theories, and related life
processes and develops program and intervention to promote the career development of all students.

TLGC School Counselor:

 Administer career, interest and personality assessment.

 Facilitate the exploration of careers and school courses/strand that support careers.
 Advise on appropriate placement for desired career training.

Personal/Social Development
The school counselor understands the developmental needs of the school-aged population and develops
progress and interventions that promote optimum personal and social development.

 Personal and Social Development is an integral component of Senior High School Counseling
curriculum. The SHS counselor provides classrooms guidance instructional delivery for students
such as self-awareness, self-management, interpersonal skills, skills for building relationship and
expectations of behavior.

Individual Student Planning

The school counselor understands and uses a variety of strategies to encourage students’ development of
academic, personal/social, and career competencies.

TLGC School Counselor:

 Are available for individual meetings with students and parents to address developmental,
academic, social, behavioral, emotional, and academic needs, as well as create and monitor a plan
of action to ensure the success of each student.
Consultation
The school counselor understands various consultation models and maintains collaborative relationships
within and outside community.

TLGC School Counselor:

 Regularly consult with administration and teachers to ensure the students’ needs are being met.
 Consult with parents as necessary
 Consult with community professionals as necessary
 Consult with school administration as necessary

System Support
The school counselor understands the overall educational system, acts as a facilitator of change, and
engages in planning and management tasks needed to support the comprehensive and developmental
school counseling program.

TLGC School Counselor:

 Are involved in all aspects of the school community.

 Are members of committees and groups that are responsible for developing and implementing
changes in the school environment
 Provide workshops for administration and staff to address the needs of students.
 Regularly undertake professional development to remain up-to-date on issues pertinent to
counseling in an international environment

Assessment
The school counselor understands concepts and implications of various assessment and evaluative
instruments.

 Demonstrates the ability to administer and interpret standardized tests and assessments, and
utilize the data for planning purposes for students.

Research and Program Evaluation

The competent school counselor understands the important of, and engages in, research and program
evaluation.

TLGC School Counselor:

 Administers annual surveys to students, staff, and parents to gauge the impact of the counseling
program.
 Makes any required adjustments to the counseling program as suggested by the results of surveys.
 Evaluates

Professional Orientation and Identity

The school counselor understands and actively participates within the profession of School Counseling.

TLGC School Counselor:

 Regularly attend workshops and conferences to remain up-to-date on trends in counseling and
school advising.
Crisis Intervention
The school counselor understands and implements an appropriate response to a crisis and utilizes a
variety of intervention strategies for students, families, and the community when facing emergency
situation.

TLGC School Counselor:

 Have a list of appropriate community resources for referral should the need arise

Counseling Delivery Model

Referral Process
Students may be referred to the counselor by parents, teachers, administration, self-referral, or by request
of a counselor. When teachers or Administrators refer, they complete a Counseling Referral Form.

How and Why Parents Would Contact the School Counselor?

 Concerns over student achievement
 New school registration and orientation
 Test interpretation
 Discussing special concerns of their child
 Early discussion of potential crises
 Family difficulties or concerns

Individual Counseling
The school counselor understands and utilizes a variety of individual counseling strategies and provides
appropriate referral services.

TLGC school counselor use an approach often referred to as “Brief Counseling” when providing
counseling services to individual students and families. This approach is solution focused rather than
problem-focused, and is designed to resolve current issues and concerns. The goal of the individual
counseling is to:

 Assess and understand the needs of the student

 Help the student to think and act differently by developing a plan of the student
 Provide individual support as needed
 Refer to appropriate community resources as needed

If a counselor feels that school counseling is not sufficient to meet a student’s needs, thus the counselor
may make a referral to an external professional after consulting with the student’s parent or guardian. The
school works in collaboration with the wider community to update the database of available mental health
professionals.

Group Counseling
The school counselor understands and implements principles of group counseling in the school setting.

Counselor at TLGC believes in the benefits that group counseling can provide. Group counseling is a
counseling model that is used, should there be a need to address problems specific group of identified
students.
Transition and Buddy System
The school counselor and the wider school community are always eager to help new families and students
adjust to their new school environment. We offer an official orientation session, as well as students
programs on transitions. One-on-one counseling is available to assist both students and parents with the
transition period.

Across all levels, “Class Buddies” are utilized to help new students get settled in the first couple of
weeks. The class buddies will introduce the new student to their classmates and other students, spend
recess and lunch with the new student, as well as show the new student around their class and the rest of
the school. Teachers will assign class buddies to new students before the new students first day of school.
The class buddy will accompany the school counselor in welcoming the new student to TLGC.

The school counselor will be initiating a new student Lunch Bunch group during the first month of
school. All students new to TLGC will have an opportunity to eat lunch with school counselor. The
purpose of the Lunch Bunch is to check in with the new students to see how they are transition within
their new school, provide the students an opportunity to meet other students who are also new to TLGC,
provide students a safe and fun place to ask questions they may have, and give a chance to meet the
school counselor in an informal environment.

For those families and students leaving TLGC, counselors meet with the students to discuss their feeling
about their impending move, and have the students to complete an exit survey.

The “Heart of the School”

School Counselor has, and will continue to be the “heart of the school”. As School Counselor, we help in
creating a safe and nurturing school environment for students. We work to encourage students
academically while providing students with the social and emotional knowledge that they need to move
forward as productive global citizens. TLGC School Counselor elated to have the privilege to work with
students, families, and community of TLGC. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or
concerns. We are here to serve YOU!