A field counselor provides direct services at schools, camps, and homes. This differs from an office-based work environment, where clients come to the counselor for assistance. The type of qualifications needed can depend on the employer and the services offered, but may include a license to practice counseling along with formal education in the field. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations are common employers, although some field counselors work for private companies like educational assessment firms.
Clients may be referred to counseling or could contact a parent organization seeking assistance. The counselor meets with the client to discuss the situation and develop a plan of action, which might include regular sessions to discuss ongoing issues, or scheduling an assessment to place a child in a more appropriate classroom environment. The ability to work in a variety of environments is important, as the field counselor doesn’t have a stable office, and it may also be necessary to travel or work at unusual hours.
In schools, field counselors provide services to children who need assistance because of problems at home, poor behavior at school, and other issues. They may evaluate students for learning disabilities and connect them with services, hold group sessions to provide peer support, and work with students who need help on specific tasks. A field counselor can also be employed in camps and other residential environments to offer services to people who may need help with issues like feeling homesick or struggling to fit in with the group.
Home-based field counseling can also be available. The field counselor can conduct a site visit to check on a client’s home environment, conduct an assessment, and meet with clients and families. Multiple visits may be needed to provide clients with a range of counseling services, including referrals clients may find helpful. For example, someone struggling with nutrition might benefit from meeting with a social worker to access food stamps, or attending nutrition education classes to learn more about cooking and food.
Some camps refer to people in charge of programming and supervision as field counselors. In this case, the job involves supervising children and teens in a structured camp environment, disciplining them as necessary, and organizing activities. The field counselor may provide education and training in art, music, sports, and other activities, depending on the mission of the camp. Counselors are often older teens or college students looking for summer jobs who have an interest in education and early childhood development.
