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Whether you are a rookie or a seasoned counselor, there are certain pitfalls that you must avoid to accomplish greater heights in your career.  It’s exciting to be a teacher cum school counselor at your workplace, but you need to make sure you don’t make any rookie teacher mistakes.
 

It’s essential to stay focused and not get carried away by certain turns of events. Enrolling in school counselor courses will also help you get it right when it comes to managing yourself and your students.
 

Here’s a list of common mistakes that new and some veteran teachers make. Hope this helps you to avoid making them like the plague.
 

1. It’s Okay to Say No
 

Something that new teachers often make, that is they want to please everyone. Later on, too, you might find yourself in this situation again if you switch schools or have a new Principal.
 

It’s quite natural that you feel tempted to say yes to every request you get from coworkers. Just learn to say ‘no’ when you know things are going out of limits; instead, use that time for your upgrade or lesson planning.
 

Know your boundaries and stick to them!
 

2. Not Planning Ahead
 

As you begin your career as a teacher counselor, you’ll quickly discover there is a long list of never-ending things, to say the least. You will always find a schedule full of things to do. With new challenges every year, planning becomes necessary or else those can take precedence over planning if you aren’t careful.
 

Take out time to plan out the essential things you need to accomplish for the year, otherwise something will likely take its place.
 

3. Being a Disciplinarian
 

Some of your colleagues may think that punishing the students when they make mistakes is the right thing to do and might encourage you to follow the path too; however, refrain from making the rookie teacher-counselor mistake and agree to be a disciplinarian.
 

Always remember that being non-judgmental, will encourage you to be helpful, and guide your students to make better choices.
 

4. Missing Out on Opportunities to Help
 

Don’t miss out on any opportunities to help that come your way. Make every moment count!
 

In a profession like teaching, it’s easy to get into a routine and miss those special moments where you can spread positivity as well as teach.
 

To make your job easier, always be on the lookout for opportunities to get to know your students and their families.
 

You can also take up volunteering in sporting events, community duty, or others that might come your way.
 

5. Dismissing Suicidal Comments as Harmless
 

Whenever you hear any of your students utter the word, even if sarcastically or jokingly, it’s your job to follow up with each occurrence.
 

Tell your students that you take what they’ve said very seriously, and you will look into the matter further.
 

6. Cornering Bullies and Targets in the Same Space
 

In bullying situations, as a counselor trained in student counseling techniques, you know what to do. Never put the students in the same room together to sort things out. The victim will feel cornered and can have a breakdown while the bully may take advantage of the situation. Always try to address the issue separately with the bully and the victim.