School Counseling

Carroll County Public School Counselors facilitate the academic, career, and social/emotional development of all students.  School Counselors are integral members of the instructional team. They directly impact student achievement by delivering comprehensive services that meet the needs of the 21^st Century school community.

Professional School Counselors are uniquely trained leaders who promote success for all students.  They collaborate with school stakeholders using data-driven decisions to facilitate the success of the 21st Century learner in an ever-changing society. As a result, the student will:

o    Achieve to his/her maximum potential

o    Demonstrate academic, career and social/emotional problem-solving skills

o    Recognize and appreciate individual and cultural differences

o    Develop communication, citizenship, and employability skills to make positive contributions to the community

o    Access human and technological resources for support and information

Nicola Fagan, serves as the Supervisor of School Counseling, a program that employs 82 School Counselors and Alternative Programs Intervention Specialists. Christie McCubbin, serves as the School Counseling Mentor, provides professional learning and support to School Counselors in the development/implementation of their programs. Counselors are part of the staff in each of Carroll County's schools. They provide a variety of services to students, parents, and staff.

Although each school counselor has a Master's degree and is thoroughly trained in counseling theories, techniques and interventions, school counselors do not provide therapy or long term counseling. They provide short term and/or crisis counseling of not more than 6-8 sessions. Therapists in community and private agencies have case loads of approximately 25-40 clients compared to the case loads of school counselors that range from approximately 350 students to over 800. School counselors may assist students and families in locating a therapist in the community who can more adequately provide services when long term/intensive care is needed.

School counselors are not given "privileged communication" by law. This means that if information about the counseling session is requested by a school official, a parent, a court of law or other individual who has a need to know, the counselor may share the information. However, the code of ethics of the American School Counselor Association clearly states that information shall remain confidential unless a student intends to harm himself or someone else. Counselors, therefore, endeavor to keep information confidential whenever possible while at the same time providing appropriate information, upon request, to those who have a need to know. There is one exception. When a student comes to a school counselor requesting assistance in overcoming a drug or alcohol problem, that information is confidential and may not be shared with anyone other than the agency to which the student is referred. School counselors do not provide drug and alcohol counseling for students; rather, they refer students to appropriate agencies within the community.

In schools where there is more than one counselor, students are assigned to a counselor by an alphabetical breakdown or by grade. This is done in order to balance the caseloads of counselors and to focus on developmental needs of various grade levels. Although it is preferred that the student work with the assigned counselor, it is recognized that there are times when a different counselor can better meet the specific needs or better match the personality of the student. If this is the case, the student may request a different counselor. This request may be made directly to the counselor the student desires to see or through the principal or assistant principal.

Your child may request this transcript by going to the school counseling office and filling out a transcript request form. If a form requiring information and the signature of the counselor was provided by the college, that form should be submitted at the same time. The transcript will be prepared and given to the counselor who will then complete the form and provide the necessary signatures. The transcript and form will be sent directly to the college. Colleges request that the transcript be "official." This means that the transcript is not given to the student; rather, it is mailed directly to the college. "Official" transcripts may not be given to students or parents. A student or parent may receive an "unofficial" transcript for use in college or job interviews; however, most schools and employers will want an "official" transcript for consideration of admission or employment.

School counselors are not provided confidentiality or privileged communication by law except for a case where a student is seeking help to overcome a drug and/or alcohol problem. However, confidentiality guidelines exist in a variety of professional and legal documents.

The American School Counselor's Association code of ethics and the code of ethics of the American Counseling Association direct counselors to consider information confidential unless the client indicates that he/she intends to harm himself/herself or another person or unless the client gives written permission for the disclosure of information to another person or agency.

The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR 13A.08.02.04.B) provides for confidentiality of student records: "Individual student records maintained by teachers or other school personnel under the provision of this title are to be confidential in nature, and access to these records may be granted only for the purpose of serving legitimate and recognized educational ends." Although counselor notes are not considered a part of the student record, this same confidentiality is maintained with information only being shared with individuals who have a legitimate, recognized, educational need to have the information. (For example, the pending divorce of a student's parents would not be shared with a teacher if the student is continuing to meet educational expectations. If the student's educational performance has changed, the counselor may share the information regarding the pending divorce with the teacher in an effort to assist him/her in understanding a potential reason for the decline in performance.

Annotated Code of Maryland 7- 412 provides for counselors and others to keep information confidential related to a student pursuing help to overcome a drug and/or alcohol problem: "If a student seeks information to overcome any form of drug abuse...from a teacher, counselor, principal or other professional educator employed by an educational institution...a statement, whether oral or written, made by the student or an observation or conclusion derived from the statement is not admissible against the student in any proceeding. A rule, regulation, or order may not require the disclosure of any report, statement, observation, conclusion, or other information that has been assembled or obtained by an educator through this contact."

Although a broad definition of confidentiality is not provided to counselors by law, it is expected that counselors will handle information regarding students in an ethical manner. Counselors will not share information with others except when an individual has a legitimate, recognized, educational need to have the information; when a student intends to harm himself/herself or another individual; when a parent of a student or an emancipated student provides a written statement authorizing the release of information; or in other situations as provided by COMAR. Counselors will, by law, keep information confidential regarding a student who is pursuing help in overcoming a drug or alcohol problem.

Carroll County Public Schools, and therefore counselors, desire to link with parents whenever practical and appropriate in an effort to meet the needs of students. It is expected that counselors will use sound judgement in contacting parents whenever appropriate and necessary to assist in the resolution of student concerns. The counselor must be in contact with the parent in the case of a potential suicide. Information may be shared with parents within the limits stated by law.

School counselors employed by Carroll County Public Schools must have, at a minimum, a Masters' Degree in school guidance and counseling and be certified as a school counselor by the Maryland State Department of Education. Counselors provide individual and small group counseling as well as individual, small group and classroom guidance activities. They also conduct assessment activities; consult with parents, teachers and others as needed; provide an information management service to the school, provide referrals, and manage programs and services to benefit students.

All counselors have been trained in at least nine different counseling approaches. During counselors' training, they are given the opportunity to practice each of the individual theories and the specific techniques of each theory during role play activities in the classroom setting. Counselors further develop their skills in counseling through practicum courses and internships where they work with actual clients in a supervised setting.

There are several techniques that Carroll County Public Schools has determined to be inappropriate for use with students in the school setting. They are hypnosis, psychoanalytic interpretations, interpretive dream work, free association, and techniques that are designed to access the unconscious mind.

Information about individual counselors, including their training and their theoretical orientation, may be included in school prepared materials for distribution by print and/or electronic means