Catholic schools counselors celebrate ministry during National School Counselors Week

San Antonio, TX – The week of Feb. 6-10 commemorates National School Counselors Week, and counselors from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio celebrate their important ministry.

“We currently have 41 employed counselors serving our schools—24 full-time and 17 part-time counselors,” said Veronica Ball, director of guidance and counseling services for the department of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

The week-long celebration is sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, whose mission is to “help students focus on academic, career and social/emotional development…” according to the organization’s website.

All 41 counselors in Catholic schools are master’s degree professionals with a background in mental health, said Ball. Many of the schools counselors have earned credentials including Certified School Counselors, Licenses Professional Counselors, License Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Master Social Workers.

Through established partnerships with St. Mary’s University and Texas A&M University, Ball’s office hosts seven counseling interns which serve on-site at schools as they complete their degree requirements. In previous semesters, counseling interns from the University of Texas at San Antonio and Our Lady of the Lake University have participated in the internship program.

Catholic school counselors provide an “invaluable ministry” to schools because they support not only a child’s academic, social, emotional and behavioral development, but they also support a child’s healthy spiritual development.

“It is the focus on all aspects of healthy development that is critical to supporting the success of our youth in Catholic schools,” said Ball.

Catholic school counselors have the advantage of helping students approach a situation through the lens of the Catholic faith.

“We are blessed to have such a dynamic group of mental health professionals serving the Catholic school community,” said Ball.

For more information about the Department of Catholic School’s Counseling and Guidance Services, visit archsa.org/schools/counseling.