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04-06-2007, 10:21 AM
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11 posts, read 101,095 times
Reputation: 31
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I am interested in getting my masters so I can become a
school counselor. I taught middle school for three years
and enjoyed it, but I entered another career so I could
step away from education and get my thoughts together.
It's been 9 months and I am thinking about what my next
step should be. Nursing and counseling have been my top
runners and I want to know honest feedback about your
career. I am leaning towards counseling because I do miss
working with kids. What are your thoughts? I really
appreciate taking time out of your busy schedules to help
me make a decision.
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04-06-2007, 12:35 PM
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836 posts, read 4,718,732 times
Reputation: 996
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counselor
You may also want to explore school social work. Having a master's degree in school guidance counseling may limit you just a bit. You may be more in demand if you had a master's in social work or school social work under your belt. I have a master's degree in marriage and family therapy and worked in an alternative high school for five years. I loved it. My work mainly focused on social work aspects, and I would've been in a much better position professionally and for licensure reasons if I had a social work master's degree. It's a much more flexible degree and more in demand. Just a thought.
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04-06-2007, 07:36 PM
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Location: Deep In The Heat Of Texas
2,639 posts, read 2,955,632 times
Reputation: 700
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My daughter is a school counselor for five different high schools in the Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas area. She only works with emotionally disturbed special education students.
She taught for several years before going into this and though it can become very stressful and heart-wrenching, she loves it and the students love her.
That is different work than the typical school counselor, but I would think it would be a very rewarding and fulfilling job. I say go for it, and good luck no matter what you decide.
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07-21-2008, 05:25 PM
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1 posts, read 36,083 times
Reputation: 10
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transition
I have a master's degree in MFT but didnt get my license b/c I need supervised hours. I could not get in Florida. I am planning on my to NJ. Does anyone know how I can get hours in NJ? Or should I get certification for School counselor? If so, what classes would I need?
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07-21-2008, 06:13 PM
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847 posts, read 3,423,985 times
Reputation: 240
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I am a licensed school counselor but am currently working in college admissions. I love being a guidance counselor but sadly, I live in crappy Florida and with the budget cuts, me being new to the county, my position was cut.
But, I say go for it! I love the K-12 setting and I love counseling and school counseling was the perfect fit for me. I have also interviewed for other counseling jobs outside of schools (when I was job hunting after moving and could not find a school job) and I actually found several related things that I could have done even only with a school counseling degree.
The thing about school counseling is that you really have to have the degree in school counseling to be a school counselor. But, yes, it does not allow you to do private counseling, for that you would need an LPC or LCSW.
I am actually going to start classes in the fall towards my certification in education leadership as being an assistant principal or even a principal is something I am interested in.
I love being a counselor and would not choose anything else. Of course, if there was only a job opening!! That is a good point to remember, there are limited counseling jobs available and it might get worse, the job security is not what it would be if you were a teacher.
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07-22-2008, 05:53 PM
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4,136 posts, read 11,059,922 times
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I have a teaching credential and a school counseling MA and credential.
My biggest problem after I moved was that I applied to counseling positions only to be asked if I would consider a teaching job instead. It has been a detriment to have both, even though, when I got my counseling credential you had to be a teacher first.
GRRRR!!!
Dawn
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07-23-2008, 12:05 PM
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847 posts, read 3,423,985 times
Reputation: 240
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DawnW
I have a teaching credential and a school counseling MA and credential.
My biggest problem after I moved was that I applied to counseling positions only to be asked if I would consider a teaching job instead. It has been a detriment to have both, even though, when I got my counseling credential you had to be a teacher first.
GRRRR!!!
Dawn
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That is terribly annoying!! My problem was that there are no counseling jobs here so my principal was trying to get me to teach even though I ahve no teaching credentials! I do not want to teach, counselor positions are few and far between, it is almost a reason not to go into the field. |
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07-24-2008, 10:01 PM
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1,488 posts, read 5,018,414 times
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One of the really frustrating aspects of being a school counselor is....you don't get to do much counseling, particularly at the high school level. Most h.s. counselors end up being glorified clerks and doing transcripts and credits and then doing what committee meetings and assignments that the principal doesn't want to do. In elementary, most do classroom guidance classes, which is why it's advisable to have a teaching background. If you really want to do some one-on-one or group counseling, a social worker degree would give you more opportunity to that in a school system.
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07-25-2008, 05:20 PM
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847 posts, read 3,423,985 times
Reputation: 240
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GayleTX
One of the really frustrating aspects of being a school counselor is....you don't get to do much counseling, particularly at the high school level. Most h.s. counselors end up being glorified clerks and doing transcripts and credits and then doing what committee meetings and assignments that the principal doesn't want to do. In elementary, most do classroom guidance classes, which is why it's advisable to have a teaching background. If you really want to do some one-on-one or group counseling, a social worker degree would give you more opportunity to that in a school system.
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I get so sad when people say things like this. Yes, do we have more paperwork with testing, etc.? Sure, but it is what you make of it. There are some counselors that sit around with the 'woe is me' mantra that they do not get to meet with kids anymore, blah, blah but, IMO, they are making that choice. I got my paperwork done, got the transcripts taken care of, got the testing done and managed to get a lot of time with kids because that is what is important to me and they need that.
It is what you make of it. I get plenty of time with kids and get everything else done I need to. |
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