School Adjustment Counselor: Role & Function

When adolescents come to the high school, they bring not only their dreams for the future and excitement about today, but also the age-old adolescent dilemmas regarding self, friends, and family. In additiona, marked changes in our society, including increased awareness of and pressures related to the issues of drugs, sexuality, and changes in the family system itself, have make the traditional tasks of adolescence more difficult than ever before. The stresses of age-appropriate personal and social issues for the teenager are often compounded because of the pressures mentioned above, and may interfere with the educational progress of the student.

Professional social work services provided by school adjustment counselors are available to students and their parents who require or request them. School adjustment counselors help students and families cope with personal and/or social situations which are factors hindering the student's learning process. School adjustment counselors offer limited individual, group, and family counseling to members of the school community.

If a student's problem becomes repetitive or severe, the school adjustment counselors will make referrals to appropriate service providers in the community. School adjustment counselors maintain on-going contact with area agencies and private mental health practitioners serving adolescents and can facilitate the student's involvement with these out of school services.

Students can receive help from a school adjustment counselor by signing up for an appointment in the Counseling office. Parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators may also request such services for a student by calling the Counseling office.