Comprehensive school counseling programs are a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21^st century. Not only do they help to increase student achievement, but professional school counselors serve as a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators. Here are just a few examples of the contributions made by professional school counselors in schools today:

1. School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents.
2. School counselors work in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world.
3. School counselors focus on positive ways to enhance students’ social/personal, educational and career development.
4. School counselors work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations.

National School Counseling Week will be celebrated from February 6-10, 2017. The celebration highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. To learn more about the school counseling services provided at Lutheran Family and Children’s Services, visit our School Counseling page, send an email or call 314/787-5100 or 866/326-LFCS.

The post 2017 National School Counseling Week first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

LFCS School Counselors will celebrate this special week in a wide variety of ways to focus awareness on their unique contributions to daily life in their schools. If you are looking for way to participate in the festivities, here are a few ideas:

1. Create informative and encouraging bulletin boards
2. Brainstorm with student groups toward solving classroom conflicts to school-wide assemblies
3. Have PSO sponsored snacks
4. Reward students with a celebratory lunch for achieving goals

Kids experience a lot of stressors these days, and the issues they face, the people they live and go to class with, and the situations they are involved in can all act as distractions to learning.  LFCS School Counselors engage with school staff, parents, and students to reduce the effect of these stressors and create the best learning environment possible in order to further student success. Our 42 masters-level clinicians can be found in a variety of environments. We are in over 50 private, Lutheran, and public schools across the St. Louis area and working with hundreds of students from preschool-ages through high school seniors. To learn more about the LFCS School Counseling program click here or call 314-787-5100.

The post Celebrate School Counseling Week first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.