Guidance Counselor
Vs.
School Counselor
What’s in a Name? Why the Change?
Guidance Counselors focused
on vocational guidance.
School Counselors focus on
academic, career, and
social/emotional
development.
Guidance Counselors worked
in isolation within schools.
School Counselors work with
teachers, parents,
administrators, outside
counseling agencies, and other
stakeholders.
Guidance Counselors did not
have set standards for
practice.
The American School
Counseling Association
released the ASCA National
Model: A Framework for
School Counseling Programs in
2002.
Guidance Counselors worked
mostly at the high school level
with few students.
School Counselors are
educators trained to work
with all students, K-12.
