Families searching for external counseling services should ask the following types of questions before enlisting the services of an independent or commercial counseling service.
Questions to Ask About Professional Qualifications and Experience:
- Do you have counseling experience, certification, a credential or master’s degree in counseling or a counseling related discipline?
- How long have you been an educational consultant?
- Do you have experience in a high school counseling office or as a college admission officer?
- How long has this counseling center been functioning?
- How long have your counselors been active in the field, and in what roles?
- How recently did you work on a high school or college campus?
- Are you familiar with the academic program in my high school?
- Do you visit college campuses regularly—locally, regionally, and/or nationally?
- Have you attended professionally directed conferences, college counseling institutes or workshops?
- What national and/or regional professional organizations do you belong to as a college counselor?