The school counselors are well known to be in charge of a certain amount of students, and they help the students to what college they want to go to. They help with student’s schedule being made, and are there for you when you need help with school, and personal advice. School Counselors are needed inside schools in order for schools to function.

     “The beauty of my job is that every day is different,” Lead counselor Carrie Robbins said. “I can have 10 items on my “to do” list, [but my] number one priority is serving our students, staff and parents which can look different depending on the need of the individual.”

     Being a school counselor is different from being a certified therapist. Most school counselors need a Master’s degree in counseling with around 37-48 credits, specialized around human growth, individual to group counseling, and testing and assessment methods. In order to be certified as a school counselor, you must take the TExES exam, a 100-question exam testing their abilities, questioning their thought processes and how they would deal with students in certain situations.

     “A private therapist will provide more intense, longer-term therapy with a specialized focus,” counselor Alison Atkinson said. “For example, a therapist may be providing a mental health treatment for an individual with a history of trauma. While a school counselor provides short-term counseling for students.”

     The process of discussing with students about personal issues can vary. Certain situations, such as a suicidal outcry, have to be responded to with the protocol placed by the district, as do most extreme issues in order to protect the students, and the faculty of the school.

     “My process for each student is unique to them because every student is their own individual,” Atkinson said .”I am constantly listening for themes in a student’s conversation that I can work with them on : anxiety, depression, stress, peer conflict, communication struggles, the list goes on and on.” 

     School counselors have been trained to deal with students in many scenarios, and know how to identify problems and set plans to solve situations. They are qualified to keep the students at Rouse happy.

     “From there, I will use theories and techniques that I learned in my graduate program to help the student with their specific concern,” Atkinson said. “My goal is to meet the student where they are and to help them process unique situations.”