What is a Comprehensive School Counseling Program?

Intellectual Development

• Display a wide range of individual intellectual development
• Are in a transition period from concrete thinking to abstract thinking
• Are intensely curious and have a wide range of intellectual pursuits, few of which are sustained
• Prefer active over passive learning experiences
• Prefer interaction with peers during learning activities
• Respond positively to opportunities to participate in real life situations
• Are often preoccupied with self
• Have a strong need for approval and may be easily discouraged
• Develop an increasingly better understanding of personal abilities
• Are inquisitive about adults, often challenging their authority, and always observing them
• May show disinterest in conventional academics but are intellectually curious about society and themselves
• Are developing a capacity to understand higher levels of humor

Social/Emotional Development

• Experience mood swings often with peaks of intensity and unpredictability
• Need to release energy, often resulting in sudden, apparently meaningless outbursts of activity
• Seek to become increasingly independent, searching for adult identity and acceptance
• Are increasingly concerned about peer acceptance
• Tend to be self-conscious, lacking in self-esteem, and highly sensitive to personal criticism
• Exhibit intense concern about physical growth and maturity as profound physical changes occur
• Increasingly behave in ways associated with their sex as sex role identification strengthens
• Are concerned with many major societal issues as personal value systems develop
• Believe that personal problems, feelings, and experiences are unique to themselves
• Are psychologically vulnerable - more likely to encounter so many differences between themselves and others