Definition of guidance counselor

The term "guidance counselor" originated in the early 20th century as an alternative to the traditional role of school counselors, which was primarily focused on academic placement and providing career advice. In 1916, Charles Herrick, the first recorded school counselor, changed the name of his office from "placement office" to "placement and guidance office" as he began to expand his services to include personal and social counseling for students. The word "guidance" itself can be traced back to the 1920s when it entered the education lexicon as a term to describe a process that aimed to assist individuals in making informed decisions about their future. Guidance counseling expanded in the 1930s and became an essential component of high school education, with the National Association of Guidance Counselors (NAGC) being founded in 1952. In the 1960s, the term "school counseling" started to gain popularity, emphasizing the idea that school counselors would work alongside teachers and administrators to promote positive school environments and student success. However, the term "guidance counselor" continued to be widely used, particularly in reference to the traditional role of counselors in providing academic and career guidance. Today, both "school counselor" and "guidance counselor" are commonly used in education, but the two terms are often interchangeable as they both encompass a wide range of services focused on student academic, personal, and career development. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) actively promotes using the term "school counselor" to better align with the increasingly diverse role of school counselors and to avoid any misleading connotations that "guidance counselor" may have, particularly regarding the nature and scope of counseling services.