The difference between School Counselors and Mental Health Counselors, and why parents need to know…

I’ve been both. I feel the line gets blurred too often, and it can be a disservice to students who truly need mental health support. Let’s try to clarify things.

Similarities

There are many similarities that school counselors and mental health counselors share, and although this article focuses on the differences, I did want to mention a few similarities.

They both have a master’s degree or higher.

They both take master's level classes in mental health.

They both want to help individuals.

School Counselors

School counselors primarily work in schools. Most states have laws that mandate or recommend a certain number of school counselors per a specific number of students. The American School Counselor Association recommends 1:250 however, it is rare to see a caseload mandate that low in any state.

School counselors are trained to work with students in 3 domains: academic, career, and social/emotional development. They typically work with students in a limited timeframe and use Brief Solution-Focused modalities. They do this because although they are in place to assist students with many issues, their goal is also to make sure they miss the least amount of class time as possible.

I like to say that school counselors are the problem-solvers of the school. As a school counselor, I have students come to me about family issues, peer conflicts, and all the normal adolescent things that naturally come to mind. However, they also come to me because they forgot their locker combination or because they don’t know where to find the form to try out for basketball. I am a safe place for them to ask questions, even if they are unsure that I have the answers. They trust that I will help them find the answers if I don’t have them readily available.

Because school counselors have such a large caseload and are strapped for time with their students, they can’t do in-depth mental health counseling with their students. While they do have similar training, most school counselors don’t hold the same licensure as mental health counselors. And if they graduated a while ago, it’s been a minute since that training occurred.

Mental Health Counselors

There is a wide variety of settings in which mental health counselors can be found, including community agencies, hospitals, private practices, residential facilities, and more. Also, depending on what state you are in, the level of training, supervision, and credentials can vary. On my website counselorhq.net, I have links to the different state criteria for counselors if you’re interested in looking that up.

Mental health counselors have the ability to provide therapy for an extended time and are a better long-term solution to ongoing mental health concerns. Mental health counselors might use a wide variety of theories and modalities depending on what their individual clients’ needs might be.

As a parent, what should I do?

If your child is having mental health struggles, the best thing you can do for them is to communicate with your school counselor. While they will not be able to provide in-depth therapy for your student, they can serve as a support for your student during the school day. They will be able to help provide any interventions that your student might need and will be able to inform you of any accommodations they can provide to your student at school. They should also be able to provide resources and recommendations for other supports outside of the school setting.

If your child receives mental health services outside of school, it is important that the school counselor knows about this. They don’t need to know all the specifics, but starting that conversation can ensure that your student receives all the supports available to them both in and outside of school. There are times and situations where your child’s therapist and school counselor can communicate with one another to ensure that your child is getting the best all-around services and that everyone is on the same page. For this to happen, your consent is required.

Key Take Away

Communication is essential. Open communication with your school counselor will provide you and your student with the best experience at school. They can also be a liaison between you and your child’s teachers. This is especially helpful in middle and high school, where they will probably have multiple teachers. The school counselor wants to help — that is literally what they get paid to do! Use them!