Counseling Services

School counseling services are designed to support the social, emotional, and academic growth of all our students. With the guidance of our dedicated school counselors, we aim to empower children to overcome challenges and lead fulfilled lives as compassionate, productive, and engaged citizens.  

mission

The Potsdam Central School Guidance and Counseling Department is committed to providing a caring and supportive program that inspires our students to develop academically, socially and emotionally.

Comprehensive School Counseling and Guidance Plan

View the Comprehensive School Counseling and Guidance Plan.

Counselor’s Role

Among the skills that characterize a school counselor, the following are those we consider essential:

• Counseling: School counselors provide individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, prevention and referral services for outside mental health services and assessment.
• Consultation: School counselors acting as consultants can help parents, teachers, and students work together effectively. They seek solutions to improve the educational/social/emotional experience for all students.
• Coordination of Services: School counselors coordinate resources and services for students and families through community outreach. School counselors collaborate with agencies to provide a variety of services and opportunities to students and their families.
• Leadership: School counselors seek to make schools a welcoming learning community where all students can achieve academic, career, and personal/social success. School counselors promote academic achievement by developing a comprehensive developmental school counseling program that pays attention to issues of educational equity and access.
• Advocacy: School counselors are advocates for all students to achieve at a high level. School counselors remove barriers to academic achievement by teaching skills to students, and helping students and parents negotiate the school environment and access support systems.
• Teaming and Collaboration: School counselors collaborate with teachers, administrators, special educators, staff, students, parents, and community members to impact system-wide changes. Most importantly, school counselors demonstrate that they are willing to share responsibility for student achievement and school improvement.
• Use of Data: Data provides a method to determine the impact of a school counseling program on student success and school climate. Data provides a method for counselors to assist in the development of appropriate academic programming.

Character Education: The Positivity Project

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, 20% of youth ages 14-17 live with a mental health condition and 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14.

In an effort to address the growing need for support, the New York State Board of Regents moved to amend the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. The newly revised health standards went into effect July 1, 2018 and made New York State the first to require mental health education in schools.

The mission of The Positivity Project is to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships and become their best selves. One way to build relationships is to recognize and appreciate our character strengths. This can help us find common ground with one another while also celebrating our differences.

Learn more about The Positivity Project.