School Counseling is a developmental process in which one individual (the counselor) provides another individual or group (the student) with guidance and encouragement, as well as challenge and inspiration in creatively managing and resolving practical, personal, and relationship issues in order to help students achieve goals.
School counselors focus on three main domains: Academic, Career/College, and Social-Emotional.
Middle school is an exciting, yet challenging time for students, their parents and teachers. During this passage from childhood to adolescence, middle school students are characterized by a need to explore a variety of interests, connecting their learning in the classroom to its practical application in life and work; high levels of activity coupled with frequent fatigue due to rapid growth; a search for their own unique identity as they begin turning more frequently to peers rather than parents for ideas and affirmation; extreme sensitivity to the comments from others; and heavy reliance on friends to provide comfort, understanding and approval.
Bessemer City Middle School has two full time counselors to support students as they develop academic, inter-personal and interpersonal skills to be successful in school and throughout life. Counselors work with students individually, in small groups and in the classroom to set academic and behavioral goals, create positive study habits as well as communication and problem-solving strategies. Counselors also share community resources with students and parents as well as information about college planning, academic intervention and adolescent development.
