EVERYDAY, WE AS COUNSELORS PROVIDE MORE THAN THERAPY
By Jessica Paulson
"Can I have another," he asked as he pushed his tray closer to me. I noticed his knuckles peaking through his torn gloves but looked up to see eyes full of hope. While serving at The Banquet in Sioux Falls, Sioux Chapter members learned that meal time not only appeals to those that are hungry for food but also hungry for company and hungry for a sense of safety.
On Monday, I passed through the lunchroom to see a number of students lined up, trays in hand. It was then that I realized that schools, much like The Banquet, provide for a number of basic needs. Aside from an education, schools provide warmth, shelter, food, safety and a sense of belonging that students may not get from their own homes.
Counselors play an important role in identifying these needs and in ensuring that they're being met. That Saturday at The Banquet, we as people served more than food. Everyday, we as counselors provide more than therapy.