INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
Students may meet with the school counselor individually to discuss a problem, concern or issue in a confidential setting. Referrals can be made by students, parents, teachers, or administrators. Students in grades 3-5 have a counselor referral form which may be filled out and submitted, otherwise student referrals are usually made through their classroom teacher. Feel free to contact your school counselor if you have any individual concerns about your child.
*Please keep in mind this is a school environment and NOT meant to be therapy. If your child needs to meet more than a few times, the school counselor would be happy to refer you to an outside counselor or therapist in the area.
SMALL GROUP COUNSELING
In addition to Collaborative Classroom Instruction (CCI), the school counselor leads several small groups throughout the year. Small groups are available to students who are looking for positive interactions and/or students having difficulty in various areas (i.e. friendship, behavior, or feelings). These groups are limited to 4-6 students. Students meet for approximately 30 minutes each time, a total of 6-8 times. The teachers and the counselor coordinate times so students are not out during structured learning times. Here are some of the group topics that may be offered depending on the numbers of students and their needs:
Friendship
Anger Control
Divorce
Grief/Loss
Organization/Study Skills
Relational Aggression
Self-esteem/Positive Self Talk
Stress/Anxiety
These groups are very positive and fun for children to attend. Most children love to come to the counseling office and small groups offer children a chance to practice skills in a non-threatening, fun way with their peers.