subject: How to Be a Student Counselor? [print this page] How to Be a Student Counselor? How to Be a Student Counselor?
In case you love to be with students and you are good in analyzing problems then, student counselor will be a great career choice for you. Student counselors have a major role to play in the social, psychological and academic profiles of students. The job of a student counselor is interesting though it could be taxing at times. It involves liaisoning with students, parents, teachers in a bid to resolve their problems and to create a better environment where the students can learn and develop their skills.
The best way to get a hang of counseling will be to get involved in voluntary counseling or telephone help lines. This would help you to become familiar with the art of counseling which demands a lot of temperament and patience. A degree in education, sociology, or psychology will be apt for those who wish to pursue this line of career. A master's or doctoral degree in educational psychology or child psychology will be of distinct advantage. Counselors are also required to take the state or federal certification exams.
The tremendous pressure and expectation over the students have enhanced the stress of students in recent times. This in turn has thrown open many openings for school counselors and the demand is expected to grow at the double rate in the days ahead. A school counselor plays an important role in molding the personality of the students and in making them confident and optimistic. A school counselor can help students in taking academic and personal development decisions and enjoys a close rapport with the students and their families.
An ideal student counselor should work along the students in assessing abilities and helping them attain their long-term objectives by helping them to choose the right courses and extra curricular activities.
Many school counselors also go on to specialize in certain areas of guidance, such as vocational counseling. Counselors in schools also work with physically handicapped children, students who come from broken families or troubled communities and play an important role in enhancing their confidence levels.
The job prospects of student counselors are expected to make a quantum jump considering the fact that many States in the US insist that elementary schools should have school counselors.
