COUNSELING SERVICES 

The role of a counselor at Contra Costa College is to work collaboratively with the students to provide academic, vocational, career and personal counseling to continuing, re-entering and future CCC students.  The focus is to foster and encourage students learning through self exploration and awareness. 

Academic Counseling:

• Provide information and advice regarding educational programs, degrees and transfer.
• Develop an educational plan based on the students’ educational goals.
• Evaluate students’ transcript for degrees and transferring to 4-year colleges.
• Explain the academic and progress probation policies and procedures.
• Explore variety of issues that may contribute to students academic difficulties.
• Determine the causes of poor educational performance.
• Provide students with necessary tools in order to enhance their critical thinking skills and knowledge to succeed in the world of academia.
• Assist students with studying techniques, and referring students to tutorial center.
• Educate students about various academic resources and referrals on-campus.
• Discuss procrastination and time-management.
• Write letters of recommendation for scholarships and employment.
• Assist with financial aid appeals and Cal Grants forms.

 Vocational Counseling:

• Provide educational information regarding specific vocational programs.

 Career Counseling:

• Provide tools and resources that will help students identify their skills and determine a major and a career.
• Administer career inventories and discuss the results with the student in order to identify their skills, qualities, abilities, talents, needs, and values.
• Discuss the importance of networking and informational interviews.
• Assist with selecting an occupation that fits students’ unique life-style.

 Personal Counseling:

• Allow students to openly express any feelings, thoughts, reactions, and attitudes that are present.
• Assist in the process for students’ to develop competence, manage emotions, move through autonomy toward interdependence, develop mature interpersonal relationships, establish identity, develop purpose, and integrity.
• Encourage students to replace irrational beliefs with something more realistic, and reasonable so they do not sabotage the core self.
• Enhance students’ self-esteem, and empower them in a healthy way to take ownership of their life style.
• Empower each student to become more responsible for their academic outcome, and be aware of how the role each student engage will impact his or her future.