Overwhelmed by classwork? Scared because your parents are splitting up? Worried about a friend? Feel like you don’t fit in?  Sometimes it’s just not possible to sort through tough times alone. Problems can build up and you may lose sleep, find you can’t concentrate on homework, or even become depressed. When you need to talk to someone, your school counselor can be a great place to start!

Your Counselor Can Help You Cope

A school counselor knows how to listen and help.  A counselor takes your problem seriously and works with you to find a good solution. School counselors are trained to help with everything — and it doesn’t have to be just school stuff. A counselor can help you deal with grief, advise you on disagreements with your best friend, or brainstorm future career goals. Your school counselor can give you tips on managing stress, talking to your parents, and dealing with anger and other difficult moods. She can also advise you on problems you may have with a teacher, such as communication difficulties or questions over grades. You can also meet with your counselor to get career counseling or advice on which classes to take for college.  It takes a lot of training to be a school counselor; not only a college degree but also a master’s degree and certification in counseling. Your school counselor can give you all sorts of tips and support on solving problems and making good decisions. 

Meeting with the Counselor

You don’t need to know exactly what’s bothering you when you talk with the school counselor. It’s perfectly OK just to make an appointment because you’re not sure how you’re feeling, or not doing as well in school as you’d like. It’s the school counselor’s job to help people figure out what’s going on.   Your counselor may sometimes come into the classroom, too, to teach a class on a subject that affects everyone, such as stress or good study skills.

Your school counselor is someone who is separate from your life — a neutral adult who isn’t a parent, relative, or teacher. However, your school counselor isn’t a therapist, but if you need help in some way that the school counselor can’t provide, she can give you information about other community resources.

Your Counselor is Here to be Your Advocate!

For those new to the Steller community, my role as counselor here at Steller is to provide support and guidance for students on their academic journey, and to advocate on their behalf.  Mondays through Wednesdays I am here at Steller and available anytime to help with issues albeit dilemmas, decisions, or just to talk. No matter what your problem, try to think of me as someone who’s on your side. I am here to help make your school experience the best it can be. Instead of just focusing on schoolwork and careers, today’s counselors are there for students in a broader way. Your counselor wants to help with any problem that might get in the way of learning, and try to create a positive environment for everyone at school. So if you need a counselor’s advice, just ask!

Linda