Counseling Services

The purpose of Counseling Services are to help meet the ongoing personal, educational, career and post high school planning needs of students through counseling and related activities and to provide assistance to teachers and parents as needed and requested. School adjustment counselors are available to provide additional services. The Counselors encourage their students to stop by and make appointments to discuss their academic and personal progress. For detailed information please see our Department Counseling Guide which includes a roadmap.

For up to date information on resources, programming, and services offered by the department, please feel encouraged to check out our monthly newsletters

Personal Counseling
Individual counseling
Parent/student conferences
Relationship
Stress

Academic/Educational Counseling
Academic Support (as needed)
Course selections
Individual counseling
Teacher/Student/Counselor/Parents Conferences
Teacher / Support Staff Consultations

Counseling Seminars
The Counseling Department’s comprehensive and individualized approach encompasses social/emotional, academic, and career development for all students. We help students to form healthy choices, to acquire a sense of civic responsibility, and to develop the skills necessary to realize their individual goals. Professional and caring school counselors advocate, collaborate and facilitate individual and system change in order to empower students to embrace their potential and to achieve their personal and academic aspirations. Through academic advising, counselors meet with students each spring to review graduation requirements and course selections. Below is an overview of our comprehensive curriculum that is delivered by students’ counselors in a small group setting.

FRESHMEN COUNSELING SEMINAR
The primary focus of the program is the orientation of freshmen to Bedford High School. Students meet during the first semester to become familiar with their new school, get to know each other, and build a relationship with their counselor. Counselors review supports and resources, getting involved at BHS, goal-setting, and decision-making. Students learn about study skills, time management and other topics of importance to ninth graders. Students are also led through interactive activities designed to foster empathy and resilience, and an affirmative school community and climate.

SOPHOMORE COUNSELING SEMINAR
This second semester program focuses on self-discovery, decision-making skills and self-assessment.  Students use the  “You Science” career and aptitude assessment, which provides insights about the student’s abilities and how their gifts and passions fit with real-world careers.  Students are encouraged to assess their strengths and weaknesses by developing personal and academic goals.  Counselors work with sophomores to formulate a plan to reach these goals.

Students also begin to explore more post-secondary options in their SCOIR account.  Scoir (pronounced “score”) is a customized, secure website that supports post-secondary, college and career planning. It is designed to assist students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) in making informed decisions about options after high school. This online resource allows students the ability to research colleges, view statistical and historical BHS data of previous application results, build a resume, take a career interest inventory, view the schedule of college representatives visiting the high school and much more.   https://www.scoir.com/

JUNIOR COUNSELOR SEMINAR
This second semester program focuses on post-secondary planning with particular emphasis on the college search process. Through a systematic approach, students come to understand the post-secondary search process (college, gap year, technical/certificate programs, employment, apprenticeships, military, etc.), factors in admissions decisions (what colleges are looking for), developing a college list (what students are looking for), request teacher recommendations  and create a balanced college list. Techniques for investigation, tours, interviews and narrowing down one’s list of post-secondary options are discussed so that students are prepared to make the best use of the summer for continuing their research. Students meet with their counselors in Jan/Feb at the beginning of the process and again in April mid-way through the planning process.

SENIOR COUNSELOR SEMINAR
In the first term of the year, students planning to attend college after high school review and revise their previous choices and finalize their plans. Counselors walk students through the post-secondary planning process (including the college application process) from start to finish.  The program provides students with the information and skills necessary to make appropriate decisions based on their unique goals, expectations, and needs. Students who wish to pursue other options upon graduation will work with their counselor, either in groups or individually, to develop their post high school plans.

Career, Internship, Summer Program Resources
The Education Cooperative (TEC)
TeenLifeBoston
Get My Future - Career One Stop
Career Planner
Get That Gig
Massachusetts Career Information Systems
My Majors
My Next Move
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Post High School Counseling
Individual counseling
Junior Counseling Seminars
Senior Counseling Seminars
Career Exploration / YouScience Apptitude Assessment (Scoir)
College Alternatives / Fair
Financial Aid Planning / Workshop Evening Presentation
Parent/Student Conferences
Post High School Planning Evening (Jrs and Parents)
Post High School Planning Guide/Handbook
Roadmap

Bedford Cares!
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources, Counseling Referrals and Support developed by the Pre-K-12 Mental Health Team and Bedford Youth and Family Services.