Individual School Counseling

What is the purpose of individual counseling?

School conselors do not provide long-term, traditional, or intensive clinical therapy, but brief, solution-focused counseling to remove barriers to learning in the classroom. Issues such as diagnosed mental health disorders or long-term family counseling are beyond the scope of the school counselor. If you feel your child and/or your family would benefit from more long-term, individualized counseling, I'd be happy to discuss referral options with you. 

Individual counseing is avilable for students who need more targeted, specific support. Specific referrals are considered by our Tier 3 Health Services Team. The goals of individual interventions are designed to help remove barriers to student success in the classroom. Counseling referrals may be received from students, teachers, and/or parents/guardians. 

Individual counseling sessions will take place weekly or bi-weekly, during school hours, for 20-30 minutes, for no more than 8-10 weeks. At the conclusion of this predetermined time frame, we will meet to review the student's progress toward his/her/their goals and provide further recommendations/resorces, including referral to outside counseling, if necessary.

How does individual school counseling differ from therapy?

School counselors mentor and counsel students on a range of issues from schoolwork to social, behavioral, and/or emotional problems such as bullying, substance abuse, and low self esteem.  School counselors will help students identify problems, causes, alternatives, and possible consequences in an effort to help students make a decision and take appropriate action. Individual counseling is short-term and solution-focused.

"School counselors do not provide therapy or long-term counseling in schools to address psychological disorders. However, school counselors are prepared to recognize and respond to student mental health crises and needs. School counselors address those barriers to student success by offering education, prevention and crisis and short-term intervention to include group counseling until the student is connected with available community resources. When students require long-term counseling or therapy, school counselors make referrals to appropriate community resources (ASCA, 2012)."

Contact Mrs. T!

If you have questions about individual counseling or would like to request a meeting to discuss your child's needs, please contact me at kimberly.thibodeau@colchestersd.org.