Prince William County Public Schools

National School Counseling Week is celebrated from February 3–7, 2025, and this year's theme is 'School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive'. This week raises public awareness about how school counselors play a crucial role in supporting students’ overall well-being and success. They work closely with students to address academic, career, and social-emotional needs, helping them navigate challenges and achieve their goals.

School counselors provide comprehensive services that include individual and group counseling, classroom lessons, and crisis intervention. They also collaborate with teachers, parents, and the community to create a supportive environment that fosters student growth and development. Through their dedicated efforts, school counselors ensure that every student has the resources and support needed to thrive.

Both school and college career counselors are certified/licensed educator professionals with a master's degree and beyond. An integral part of the total education system, school counselors help students form
healthy goals, mindsets, and behaviors; build relationship skills; and assist in planning their future career contributions to our world of work and community.

Divisionwide, school counselors improve student success for ALL students by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program based on the Virginia Department of Education Standards for School Counseling Programs (PDF)  and the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model (PDF) .

The School Counselor's Role

As defined by ASCA:

School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes. They lead, advocate and collaborate to promote equity and access for all students by connecting their school counseling program to the school’s academic mission and school improvement plan. They uphold the ethical and professional standards of ASCA and promote the development of the school counseling program based on the following areas of the ASCA National Model: define, deliver, manage and assess.

School Counselors:

• help students manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills;
• are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development;
• help parents focus on ways to further the educational, personal and social growth of their children;
• collaborate with families/teachers/administrators/community to help students reach their full potential and set realistic goals for themselves to ensure success;
• seek to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and complement comprehensive school counseling programs and help students become productive members of society;
• advocate for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings; and
• assist with individual academic advising and planning for postsecondary options (higher education, military, workforce)

Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs are considered an integral part of the educational process that enables all students to achieve success in school.