Across the USA, some parents choose to home-educate their children rather than send them to school, and it’s a life choice that’s becoming more popular. Although these children are not part of a traditional academic setting, they can still enjoy the benefits of a school counselor.
Working remotely, counselors can help home-educated children with a range of needs, provide access to other professionals, and give children emotional support when they are struggling. In this less conventional setting, school counselors will adhere to the same code of ethics as they would in any other therapeutic environment and work to the same standards as they would in a school.
Their practice often takes a collaborative approach, enabling the school counselor to serve as a link between families who are home-educating and the formal education system. They can help ensure children studying at home have access to the same opportunities as those in schools so their academic, social, and emotional development is positive.
Moreover, the counselor strives to promote equity when it comes to home-educated children choosing a career path and having the same opportunities to participate in further education as other students.
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Training online to become a school counselor
Although school counselors play a vital role in the academic success and well-being of US children, many states have shortages of people to fill these posts. Part of the problem is that busy working people often do not have the time to complete the training necessary to become qualified as a counselor.
However, universities like St. Bonaventure have launched online degree programs that offer a more flexible approach to learning. These qualifications can be customized to fit in with an individual’s existing commitments and their professional ambitions. At St. Bonaventure, the Online School Counseling Master’s program is designed for people new to the profession and also those working in counseling wanting to extend their skills. Students benefit from two internships and a practicum and are prepared to take the licensed professional counselor exam.
Counseling home-educated children is often a very different experience for practitioners because school counselors rarely visit children in their homes. Therefore, much of the service will be delivered remotely. More established counselors can draw on their experiences of supporting children online during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, people who are just coming into the role will have new skills to master when it comes to delivering a well-rounded school counseling service.
They will use the same praise and advice in counseling sessions that they would in a face-to-face situation, as this helps to establish a good relationship between the professional and the children they are serving. Nevertheless, counselors will also acknowledge to home-educating families that there are limitations of a remote service in terms of availability.
However, many of these can be tackled at an early stage, and there can be a discussion about the procedures to follow if the counselor is not available. By keeping everyone informed about the nature of the service, the counselor, the student, and the family will be prepared for any problems and also understand the potential benefits of having remote sessions.
Furthermore, because not all families and children are regular users of remote services, the counselor will offer education on how the process works, what they have to offer, and what kind of relationship they are hoping to foster. This can help the school counselor avoid potential problems further down the line, which can arise if the child is not used to reading visual clues or body language and if they have difficulty forming any kind of bond with the practitioner.
School counselors won’t usually carry out home visits, but those who offer support to families who are home-educating will ask for contact details and an address. This allows them to get in touch when they have news to share or updates on any resources they are tracking down for a family. Their job in these circumstances can be as vital as the one they do in schools.
All students have challenges that could impact their personal goals, education and careers. A school counselor can offer the kind of emotional support and academic advice that allows young people to navigate these problems.
Moreover, they can counsel parents when a child is having behavioral issues or trying to manage an issue like substance abuse, as well as providing practical support in terms of offering access to therapy or healthcare.
Providing support for parents
When parents who are home-educating have a concern about one of their children, school counselors can offer online sessions during which they can talk through the problem. They can help parents get to the heart of an issue and also provide guidance on helping the young person manage their feelings.
Any adults who make up the student’s network can have an impact on their well-being, but it tends to be parents who have the most influence. Therefore, the school counselor can teach them how to identify social or mental health issues in a young person, as well as how to broach topics like inequality, prejudice and personal safety.
The counselor might choose to have sessions with parents that focus on them and where they can seek help if they are feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities. This might include ideas for tackling stress, along with specific information on how to go about seeking help and which services they could approach.
Establishing regular one-to-one counseling sessions with students
Students in a home-educating environment can get the same benefits from a school counselor, although, at first, they may struggle with this new relationship. The counselor will make an effort to clarify anything they are unsure of and explain anything they do not understand so that the sessions are positive.
Counselors might have one-to-one meetings with students who are studying at home for several reasons. Primarily, they will help these pupils to work through any academic and emotional concerns.
A counselor can also meet with students to offer advice on more specific topics that may be raised by either the practitioner or the student. Plus, if the student is unhappy about any aspect of their education, they can discuss this with their counselor. This form of counseling can be delivered through phone calls, emails or video conferences.
Providing a link to services for students living remotely
In 2022, more than 90% of all households in the USA had internet access, which means most home-educating families can be in regular contact with a school counselor regardless of their geographical location.
It also means that virtual school counseling can be offered in a way that is both convenient and accessible to students whether they are living rurally or in an urban environment. Bringing this service into student’s homes, an environment in which they feel safe and comfortable in terms of expressing their feelings, allows the counselor to nurture a deeper connection.
Once that is established, students are likely to be more willing to open up, whether they want to talk about their social, educational or emotional lives. As a result, the counselor can gain a more profound insight into the experiences that a young person is having and offer useful support.
By contacting home-educating families remotely, the school counselor can also provide a service in private without the student feeling embarrassed or self-conscious about speaking with a professional.
Teaching students about appropriate behavior online
Many home-educated children make use of online resources when it comes to learning. That means they navigate the Internet regularly, and this virtual space quickly begins to feel familiar. Nevertheless, everyone faces an element of risk when they are online, and students are no different.
They might find themselves the victim of a phishing email, access inappropriate content or be distracted by social media, all of which can have a detrimental effect on their education.
To keep students on track with their learning and to prevent them from coming to harm, the school counselor can offer advice on privacy and safety in the online space. They can offer guidance on learning effectively from technology, such as minimizing distractions and planning a schedule that includes time for work and breaks.
People of all ages also use the Internet to chat and communicate. If students have accounts on social media, they will frequently interact with others but may need advice when it comes to behaving appropriately in this setting, especially if their parents have not discussed the subject at length. The practitioner can go over topics such as being kind and respectful and remembering that nothing that happens socially online can be considered private.
Finally, the counselor may use a collaborative meeting between the student and their parents to reiterate the risks of online study so the entire family is aware of what to consider. However, they will also remind students that online learning and technology, in general, can be very useful when it comes to reaching their academic potential and career goals.
Delivering lessons on social and study skills
In schools, counselors visit the classroom regularly, although the bulk of their work is done in an office. As part of their service to home-educating families, the counselor can deliver the same type of lessons at a level that is appropriate for individual children.
Depending on what they think would be useful or what the family has requested, the counselor might choose to deliver lessons on making friends and socializing, studying effectively, or managing feelings. This could involve educating students on mindfulness techniques that are designed to manage stress or teaching students to be more assertive or stand up for those they care about when necessary.
Any lessons that a school counselor incorporates into their meetings with home-educating families will have the same purpose as they would in a school environment. The aims will relate to the student’s academic progress, their social and emotional well-being, and their career aspirations.
In both instances, the counselor will use the skills they have learned from being in the role and the training they received at university to develop lessons that are engaging and help young people focus on finding solutions to any problems they are experiencing.
As part of these lessons, the counselor may set tasks for their students that help them to feel empowered and capable. For instance, they might ask young people to write a journal entry on a challenging situation they faced in the past and an explanation of how they overcame the problem.
Providing career guidance
As well as directing students to online resources, such as financial aid planning packages for further education or local colleges that are accommodating to home-educated children, school counselors can help them select a career path. This will be done by considering what the child enjoys doing at home, such as whether they prefer to be active or are drawn towards more academic pursuits.
Counselors will also discuss which hobbies the young person has and find out whether any of these have the potential to develop into a career.
A child that is sporty, for example, might thrive in a role that requires a good understanding of teamwork. Those with an interest in the arts might be drawn towards a more creative career. Helping students figure out their plans can also involve a discussion about going to college or searching for paid work when they are old enough.
Most counselors will use this information, together with the young person’s preferences, to offer suggestions. Should they agree on a goal, the counselor can help home-educating families to design a plan for their children as they move on to work or post-secondary education.
Ensuring learning difficulties and special needs are recognized early
School counselors can recognize the signs of many common learning difficulties that affect young people. As well as offering education to parents so they can help their child, the counselor can recommend forms of educational support and make referrals to community specialists. In most cases, an educational psychologist will be best placed to diagnose a learning difficulty, but, if the problem is related to a specific condition, they may make a referral to a psychiatrist.
School counselors can also offer services to students who have physical disabilities, both directly and indirectly. In terms of one-to-one assistance, they will work with young people to identify their strengths, as well as the challenges they face and the help they need to navigate these challenges. A counselor can also refer a home-educated child to various services that could be useful.
Depending on the student’s needs, this might include collaborating with physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech and language pathologists, to arrange for additional services to be provided. These professionals will carry out assessments to determine how best to provide support and offer long-term or short-term therapy, which allows every child to reach their full potential.
Identifying and tackling mental health issues
School counselors are trained to spot the signs of students who are suffering from anxiety or stress or living with a mental health problem. In a home-educating environment, this skill ensures the practitioner can prevent smaller issues from escalating into something more troublesome.
Once they see a problem, the counselor can offer therapy to the young person, create a plan for more one-to-one sessions, and speak with the family about how best to support their child. Even low levels of stress can make it difficult for children to concentrate and perform well, so tackling the symptoms and root causes is vital.
As part of these therapeutic offerings, counselors will acknowledge the problem and ensure the young person knows they are not alone. This short-term counseling will focus on the immediate concerns of the young person, but, if this is not enough, they will also make a referral to a community resource that’s designed to connect families with the care they need for their child.
Access to care is crucial if the young person is to return to their studies as soon as possible and move on with their education. Counselors will use these experiences as opportunities for professional development. So, if they are unfamiliar with the type of mental health issue the student is facing, they will strive to update their knowledge to refine their practice.
Finally, equipped with the information they need about the child’s condition and what can be done to help, the school counselor can educate the child’s family. This might include talking about any environmental factors that might be making their condition worse, as well as offering information and signposting to community resources.
Delivering a comprehensive service that supports equality
School counselors use their work in traditional academic environments to inform the service they offer to home-educating families. They remain focused on delivering academic, social and emotional support to young people.
However, counselors can also provide referrals and work collaboratively with other professionals to ensure that young people’s needs are addressed. Although parents take on the role of educators and play a huge role in supporting their children’s well-being, professional counselors can offer unique and additional services that ensure every young person has the best possible start in life.
