Counseling Core Curriculum & Activities

School counselors encourage the following mindsets for all students.

• Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental and physical well-being
• Sense of acceptance, respect, support and inclusion for self and others in the school environment
• Positive attitude toward work and learning
• Self-confidence in ability to succeed
• Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes
• Understanding that postsecondary education and lifelong learning are necessary for long-term success

• Critical thinking skills to make informed decisions
• Creative approach to learning, tasks and problem solving
• Time-management, organizational and study skills
• Self-motivation and self-direction for learning
• Media and technology skills to enhance learning
• High-quality standards for tasks and activities
• Long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals
• Engagement in challenging coursework
• Decision-making informed by gathering evidence, getting others’ perspectives and recognizing personal bias
• Participation in enrichment and extracurricular activities

• Responsibility for self and actions
• Self-discipline and self-control
• Independent work
• Delayed gratification for long-term rewards
• Perseverance to achieve long and short-term goals
• Ability to identify and overcome barriers
• Effective coping skills
• Balance of school, home and community activities
• Personal safety skills
• Ability to manage transitions and adapt to change

• Effective oral and written communication skills and listening skills
• Positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them
• Positive relationships with adults to support success
• Empathy
• Ethical decision-making and social responsibility
• Effective collaboration and cooperation skills
• Leadership and teamwork skills to work effectively in diverse groups
• Advocacy skills for self and others and ability to assert self, when necessary
• Social maturity and behaviors appropriate to the situation and environment
• Cultural awareness, sensitivity and responsiveness

The South Carolina Comprehensive School Counseling and Career Guidance Model (SC Comprehensive Model) establishes the guidelines necessary to ensure a consistent statewide developmental framework that defines standards and competencies needed to deliver a comprehensive school counseling and career guidance program to all students.
Source: The South Carolina Comprehensive School Counseling & Career Guidance Model (PDF)