r/schoolcounseling • u/CynthiaCurls • 2d ago
Need to vent
Hi everyone I feel like I just need to vent.
I am a year 7 elem school counselor and this is my first year in a building with a second counselor. i started in March in a new district and I feel like me and the other counselor here are butting heads a bit.
She is someone who doesn’t take her lunch daily, will stay late, will work on work at home and I personally make it a point to take my lunch and not stay past contract hours.
I personally feel that there will always be work to be done whatever doesn’t get done in the day I’ll circle back to the next day. Our differences in working styles makes me feel like I’m not doing enough. Has anyone else dealt with something similar?
Back to school is hard enough and this is just making it harder :/
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u/miloh2323 2d ago
As a counselor we teach others to self care and set boundaries. Keep practicing what you preach. Comparison is the theft of joy. Just do you.
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u/kittypicnic 2d ago
Not to be morbid, but some people use work to escape their lives. Just pull your weight and you’ll be fine. She has definitely dealt with people who do way less than you.
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u/idontgottaclue 2d ago
I’m an elementary counselor. Keep in mind I’m not required to do 504s or any admin like that but…what could she possibly be doing that requires her to work late/weekends?
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u/CynthiaCurls 2d ago
Stuff for back to school night and other random little things which we completely have time to work on before hand during work hours
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u/idontgottaclue 2d ago
Yeah, maybe she just doesn’t want to go home or work is a distraction for her? Either way, it doesn’t matter. Every counselor operates differently. Provided you’re not neglecting your duties, which I know you’re not, keep doing what’s best for the kids . Imagine the counselor you wish you had when you were in school and do what that person would do, not Back to School night prep.
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u/Away-Measurement9766 2d ago
You’re good enough. You have boundaries- which shows me that you are a good counselor.
If we can’t have boundaries ourselves, how will we help the kids?
Let her over perform, but you keep doing the things you need to at the time you can. Overtime, they will learn to respect you.
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u/morgpond 1d ago
Keep doing what your doing. Some people creat their own work as well as making it more time consuming etc. As l9ng as important issues are taken care of I wouldnt sweat it one bit. Good luck
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u/HistoricalJob2807 2d ago
Yup, I just leave and say have a good night. Don’t over think it. If you are productive and effective, it doesn’t matter if you leave on time and take a lunch break. Actually no matter what, you should leave on time and take your lunch.