My dream office
My dream office at any level (elementary, middle, or high school) would have a few key elements. First and foremost, I would want my office to be easily accessible and inviting to students. Ideally, I feel that an office located close to the main office would be beneficial because it would be easy for students to find and would be located in an area that students pass by frequently. However, I feel that the office should still be separated far enough from the bustle of the main office so that students feel at ease and can trust that their conversations are in fact private. To make my office inviting, I would include inspirational quotes and art work that are relevant and applicable to the population I am serving, such as positive quotes from real-life individuals or characters that the students enjoy. It is important that this artwork also promotes diversity and equality. I think allowing students to contribute to the decoration of the office when possible is a great way to make students feel more comfortable and involved in the counseling program, such as providing an area to rotate the artwork of younger students, or a sport for an inspirational song of the week that older children can vote on.
I think it is vital that a school counseling office is adaptable and able to fulfill many different purposes, as school counselors may perform a wide variety of services on any given day. I would like an office that is large enough to fit a small table, so that I can accommodate small group sessions, but that also has some open space that can be arranged as a more relaxed setting. I feel that furniture should be appropriate for the level I am working with; by this I mean that at the elementary level tables and chairs should be a child-friendly size, just as they should be the appropriate size for middle and/or high schoolers at these levels of schooling. This will alone students to feel more powerful and in control in the counseling office. Even at the elementary level, I would still like a few adult-size chairs so that I can conduct one-on-one meetings with parents and teachers comfortably. In the less structured area I would like plenty of resources to use with my students, budget permitting. This is an area I feel would be especially important for elementary students. At the elementary level, as opposed to the middle and high school levels, it is often easier to engage students in activities and games that promote learning, as learning through play comes easier than simply sitting and carrying a conversation in counseling. For these students, I would like to have art materials, therapeutic games, a small library (with books organized by relevant counseling topics, such as bullying and emotions), and a corner where students who are quick to anger can come to deescalate when needed.
I think it is vital that a school counseling office is adaptable and able to fulfill many different purposes, as school counselors may perform a wide variety of services on any given day. I would like an office that is large enough to fit a small table, so that I can accommodate small group sessions, but that also has some open space that can be arranged as a more relaxed setting. I feel that furniture should be appropriate for the level I am working with; by this I mean that at the elementary level tables and chairs should be a child-friendly size, just as they should be the appropriate size for middle and/or high schoolers at these levels of schooling. This will alone students to feel more powerful and in control in the counseling office. Even at the elementary level, I would still like a few adult-size chairs so that I can conduct one-on-one meetings with parents and teachers comfortably. In the less structured area I would like plenty of resources to use with my students, budget permitting. This is an area I feel would be especially important for elementary students. At the elementary level, as opposed to the middle and high school levels, it is often easier to engage students in activities and games that promote learning, as learning through play comes easier than simply sitting and carrying a conversation in counseling. For these students, I would like to have art materials, therapeutic games, a small library (with books organized by relevant counseling topics, such as bullying and emotions), and a corner where students who are quick to anger can come to deescalate when needed.