School Counseling

In order to promote the success of all students, the mission of the Big Timber Grade School Counseling Program is to enhance all students’ academic, career, and social/emotional development through delivering a comprehensive school counseling program.

The school counselor visits all classrooms every other week to teach guidance lessons to support whole child development, focused on the three areas- academic, career, social/emotional development. 

Each month, lessons will center around the following themes:

• August/September: Meet the Counselor/Welcome Back

• October: Conflict Resolution/Dealing with Bullying (Kelso Choices)

• November: Emotional Regulation (Zones of Regulation and coping skills)

• December: Empathy 

• January: Growth Mindset and Goal Setting

• February: Kindness

• March: Responsibility  (self-control and respect for others)

• April: Self Esteem/Careers

• May: End of the Year Review/ Closing Lessons

Junior High students (grades 7th & 8th) will be learning about: conflict resolution, dealing with drama and bullying, social media safety, healthy friendships, stress management, and mental health awareness/ coping strategies . 

Individual counseling is available to all Big Timber Grade School students. The school counselor provides short-term counseling services to students that are referred by school staff, parents, and the students themselves.  If you are interested in the school counselor working with your child, you are welcome to contact your child's teacher or the school counselor directly. 

There are a wide variety of reasons a student may visit with the school counselor. Some of these reasons may include, but are not limited to: 

• anxiety/stress management

•  emotional regulation

• conflict resolution with peers

• navigating challenging life circumstances or changes in the family system

•  coping with grief

• development of coping skills

• goal setting

• academic achievement

*School counselors do not provide therapeutic services in a school setting. If the school counselor believes that an outside therapist  is the most supportive option to meet your child's unique needs, she will provide you with referrals to a credible therapists. If you would like your child to begin working with a therapist, you may contact the school counselor and she can assist you with this process.

The school counselor offers small groups at BTGS to teach important skills. Examples of groups that may be offered include: study skills, social skills, friendship skills, worry/anxiety management, sportsmanship, and new student welcome groups.   If your child is invited to participate in a group, this does not indicate a problem! Your child's teacher may recommend him or her for a particular group. School counselors emphasize to students that anyone can be a part of a group, it is simply their turn to participate! 

For mental health emergencies, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: 

988

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 

School counselors support students through short-term counseling interventions, however do not provide long-term therapeutic services in a school setting. If the school counselor believes that an outside therapist  is the most supportive option to meet your child's unique needs, she will provide you with a referrals to credible therapists in the surrounding area. Telehealth services are also available.  If you would like your child to begin working with a therapist, the school counselor can assist you with this process.