How Do School Counselors Help Kids?

School counselors are people you can turn to when you need help. They are good listeners. They want to help you get the most out of school. They help students handle all types of problems. They want to make school a welcoming place for everyone.

For example, school counselors can help if a kid is:

• bullied at school
  
• new to the school and doesn't have friends yet
• upset about a family problem, such as divorce or death of a loved one
• having trouble with homework
• having trouble with friends
• feeling stressed

Your school counselor is someone you can talk with if you have a problem. 

How Do I Meet My School Counselor?

It's great to meet the school counselor, even if you don't need any help right now.

Some school counselors visit the classroom. They might teach lessons about feelings, study skills, and friendship skills. They might teach students how to stand up for themselves and each other. They might teach mindful breathing to help students cope with stress.

Students can also meet with their school counselor in the counselor’s office. Some counselors have group meetings for kids who are dealing with the same issue. They might have a group for kids whose parents are going through a divorce. They might have a group for kids going through grief because a loved one died. They might have a group for kids with ADHD. Or a group for kids who want to make more friends.

If you want to talk with your counselor, you can ask your teacher how to set up a time to meet. Or you could just stop by the counselor’s office to say hello. Tell them you’d like to talk. Ask them when is a good time. School counselors are happy to help.