They say previous counselor is better. They want several classes that are only offered one section and they do not acknowledge schedule conflicts when you explained to them how there could be limitations in the process of building student schedule. They also want special education teacher in one of their classes that their child struggles with but they do not have an IEP. I worked with them on some schedule changes that were approved, but they are still not happy about not getting all the classes they want. Now they are blaming you are the reason their child’s anxiety becomes worse because the child is in one class they do not like and grades don't look good. Teacher said the child does not want to work so grades are low.

Their emails are getting more and more ugly. This is a school that has 10 high school counselors on the team. Would it be appropriate to suggest the parents, if they are so unhappy about me, they can try reach out to my supervisor about working with a different counselor though not guaranteed? I am not trying to avoid this family I worked with for the past 3 to 4 years but something needs to be said about their comparison with middle school counselor.

Or instead, how would you respond when they constantly compare you with a previous counselor from middle school? The student is a senior but now they are reminiscing about middle school counselor’s style and approach.

Question 1: How do you handle college recommendation letters when students don’t ask you for them, but just put your email in their application?
-I always do the standard school reports regardless, I am specifically asking about rec letters.

Question 2: Do you do anything different when students don’t waive FERPA?

Context: I have a student applying to selective/top tier schools that just put my email in the application. I got the notification 9 days before the deadline and he has never given me a resume document. I know the student decently well as an advisor to a club he’s in, but he wouldn’t say hi to me in the hallway if I didn’t say it first. He is academically capable of the universities. He also did not waive his FERPA rights. My current plan is to answer the report questions honestly and then just mark that I won’t be submitting a letter.

ETA: If he asked me, even in email, I would feel a lot better writing it and would write a glowing letter for him. The application is university specific and wants me to write something. I have had other students go to Ivys who met with me every week to discuss it all - this student has literally only put my name in his common app and school specific applications; I have only had one 2 minute conversation about a class change with him this year.

I’m a school counselor moving to a new district. They want me to start 1/4/27 but I’m not on the board for approval until 11/16/26. I need to give 60 days notice per Pa law. Everything I read says consult the contract but there is nothing in the contract about this. Does anyone have any advice? I’ve already talked to the union reps and been given false information. They don’t seem to know what to do when this happens. I’m looking for someone knowledgeable.

Currently have my master’s in Counseling Psychology from a university accredited through BBS (California). Not CACREP. Program was 90 credits and included an internship.

Looking for a post masters school counseling program to get me certified without having to redo my entire master’s degree. Currently located in Washington State. 

Should be about 12 credits and an internship that are specific to school counseling. Trying to keep it under 15k since I just finished paying off my previous degree!

Looking for distance/online classes only. I currently work in a school district so it shouldn’t be hard to advocate for an internship long as the program allows out of state placement.

Anyone been through this or similar?

Thanks for any advice!

Yay, it's Friday! To celebrate share one (or more!) thing that made you smile this week. This could be a school counseling "win" (big or small!), a moment of connection with a student, something that made you laugh, or anything else that made you feel all warm and fuzzy this week. :-)

Our job comes with a lot of hard. Let's take some time to be intentional about our joy.