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Counselors’ roles change

January 25, 2008

By: Lily Zhao <lzhao@hilite.org>

Recently, junior Elizabeth Frederick sat in the counseling center, waiting to see her counselor. It was the first time that Frederick had visited with her counselor, Stephanie Benson, since Nov. 28 of last year.

While some students here view their counselors as emotional and academic mentors, Frederick said she just visits her counselor for educational advice, with nothing emotional attached.

“I’m pretty comfortable here and I don’t really go see my counselor once or twice a week,” Frederick said. “While I certainly appreciate them being here, I usually just visit the counseling center when I have questions on my schedule or if I have college questions.”

According to counselor Rich Allen, former middle school counselor, counselors at the middle school level are seen as emotional coaches because in junior high, scheduling isn’t as stressful as it is here.

However, at the high school, he said that because of counselors’ busy schedules and due to students reaching a higher level of schooling, many students just feel no need to talk to their counselors. And that, Allen said, is pretty typical.

He said that that’s because most students are likely old enough to handle emotional problems and just see their counselors if they have questions about school-related issues. To Allen, he said that he and many other counselors are here to deal with the best of both worlds.

Of course, Benson said that although she would love to have that one-on-one time with most of her students, she said that she’s perfectly fine with those students who visit their counselors just for scheduling purposes, like Frederick.

“I would say that I am here for my students, whatever their individual needs might be. If I am ‘just’ a resource for academic or college questions, that’s fine, as long as that’s all the student needs from me,” Benson said.

For Frederick, that confidence carries across her household and school. She said that because she feels no strains in her personal life, she said that she feels no need to talk to Benson on a personal basis.

Frederick also said that seeing her counselor for little, tiny problems is complicated, due to counselors’ busy schedules and the time to write out a pass request, so she just consults with friends.

On the other hand, the school still offers resources for students with emotional crises, but in a different format.

Jane Wildman, student assistance coordinator, meets with students who have issues that they would like to express in private. She said that since she is also a social worker here, many counselors who do not have the time to see a particular student refer those students to her.

Wildman, unlike the other counselors in the department, has no scheduling responsibilities. Therefore, she has time to counsel these students. She also said that while students in junior high see their counselors more often, so do the high school counselors, just for different reasons.

Furthermore, according to Wildman, these counselors are all qualified to deal with personal problems, even if they seem like they are there just for scheduling and college concerns.

Fellow counselor Stephanie Payne said, “I wish I had the time to develop a better relationship with more of my students because I want them to come for me for help. I want students to know they have a counselor as a resource.”

Allen said that he agrees with the fact that most counselors, while qualified, still feel the need to want to visit students; but, “most students (at the high school level) are on autopilot,” he said.

However, Allen also said that “for students who need more guidance, that’s where (the counselors) come in. It feels like a victory, like winning the Super Bowl, when you see students with no confidence gain that confidence.”

Updated by ychoi · Filed Under Feature 

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