• Comprehensive School Counseling Program Philosophy

    The Columbia Public School District believes the school counseling program is essential and integral to the educational process.  Since emotional, social, and intellectual development is an ongoing and integrated process, the school counseling program must address the issue of total development from preschool to young adulthood. Growth and learning are developmental, with students’ needs varying at progressive states; therefore, an effective school counseling program must provide structured, sequential activities to address those needs.

    A developmental school counseling program focuses on all students.  While the counselor continues to respond to the individual's unique needs, all students benefit from experiential activities that enhance their knowledge and skills in career planning and exploration, self-awareness and interpersonal relationships, and educational/vocational development. Proficiency in these areas improves students’ self-concept, fosters better peer and adult interactions, and lends students a sense of purpose and direction in more effectively planning and controlling their own lives.  Such enhanced competencies result in students who are prepared to cope with life’s decisions and manage human relationships.  Thus, the comprehensive school counseling program is preventative as well as remedial in nature.

    The CPS Comprehensive School Counseling Program is built on a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS).  Foundational skills are provided universally to all students at a Tier One level.  These skills assist students with healthy social, emotional, academic, and career development and are delivered through the program's school counseling curriculum and individual student planning components.  Individuals and groups of students needing additional support are provided Tier 2 Responsive Services through individual or group counseling, consultation, and collaboration.  Tier 3 services comprise intensive Responsive Services, typically including referral and case management.  The System Support component of the program works to support the entire program at various tiered levels.

    School Counseling MTSS