National School Counseling Week 2024
Post Published On:Thomas University will honor National School Counseling Week from February 5-9 by recognizing the vital importance it plays in the lives of children and adults across the country.
TU is an educational institution where individuals can acquire the knowledge and understanding to become effective counselors in different career fields.
The TU counseling degree has four different specialties –School Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Addiction Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The program is offered completely online.
Shawonda Stephens is pursuing her Master of Science in Counseling degree focusing on school counseling at Thomas University. She is a special education teacher for students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Wilkinson County Primary School, which is in Irwinton, Georgia. Once she graduates, her goal is to become a school counselor.
Stephens credits the faculty, including Dr. Katrina Steele, assistant professor in the Division of Counseling and Psychology and director of Student Disability Support Services, for her success at Thomas University so far.
“Dr. Steele has really been helpful,” Stephens said. “I had a really hard time last semester in my Theory class. She helped me through it. She spent about two hours one day walking me through everything and reassuring me that I can do this.”
Drew Miles is a substitute teacher at Lovin Elementary School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. In addition to working as a teacher, she also attends Thomas University to earn her Master of Science in Counseling degree with a specialty in school counseling.
Miles said she chose TU because of its feasibility and responsiveness.
“I looked up a lot of different schools and a lot of them were in-person, which wasn’t going to be feasible for me,” Miles said. “I had to have a full-time job in order to be financially stable. I saw that TU was online, so I reached out to TU to hear about their program. I got a call back right away. They let me know that I can be fully online, except for my internship, which was fine with me. They gave me my full tenure of what I will be doing. They were just really responsive and that was really helpful in making my decision to come to TU.”
Thomas University will continue to shine a light on school counseling as it prepares to host the Georgia School Counselor Association Region 6 Conference on Friday, February 23. The conference will focus on the effects of anxiety in children and adolescents and on interventions you use to make a difference.
If you are interested in TU’s counseling degree program, email Dr. Lora Hoffman at lhoffman@thomasu.edu
