School Counseling
School Counseling Services
Direct Services with students
Individual Counseling services are available on a request and situation urgency. Students, parents and/or staff can contact me about student concerns. Please be aware that ethically school counselors can not do therapy in a school setting. That's considered outside their scope of practice. However, school counselors can do brief counseling for any social and emotional issues regarding family & school. If a student needs to be seen consistently (more than 3 or 4 times for the same issue/concern), school counselors need to refer the child for outside therapy. In the section titled Mental Health Resources, you can find local outside counseling resources for on-going therapy.
Some topics that may be discussed in counseling:
* Anxiety
* Self-esteem
* Family concerns
* Making friends
* Coping skills
* Organization
* Death and dying
* Study skills
* Bullying, etc.
When students are referred to counseling for individual counseling, they are typically referred for one of two reasons: reactively or proactively. Reactively refers to when something has happened to the student during the course of their school day and has interrupted their learning or the learning of others. The student usually is visibly upset or needs assistance with behavior. Students who are seen for counseling proactively are done so for a specific reason and would like to work with the counselor on a certain skill.
Small Group Counseling services are available via PBIS data collection, parent and teacher recommendation. In order for small groups to be productive and effective, attendance needs to be kept to 3-5 students. These groups usually run for 6-8 weeks. I usually also have "Lunch Bunch" groups at least once a week for different kids in each of our grade levels. These are very informal check ins that I do with as many students as possible to see how things are going. Small group counseling offers the opportunity for students with similar concerns or needs to learn and talk with each other in a safe and fun environment.
How are students referred?
There are multiple ways students can be seen for counseling. Students can self-refer using self-referral forms that are located outside of my office. They fill out the form and drop it in the mailbox next to the referral forms. Depending on the urgency of the note, a school counselor will pull the student to talk to them. Counselors do not need parent permission to speak to a student, unless on-going counseling is going to be provided. Teachers, administrators, and parents can also refer students for counseling either by contacting me in person, by phone, or by email.
School Counseling Core Curriculum
Classroom Guidance Counseling services are available for every classroom in our building. Each classroom will receive a minimum of two lessons per month. Teachers can always request additional lessons as needed to support the students' social and emotional development. Classroom guidance lessons are taught for 3 domain areas: Academic Skills, College and Career Readiness and Social Emotional Skills. Classroom teachers also use the Second Step curriculum daily to promote and develop SEL (Social Emotional Learning) in their classrooms. Our school is also a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school, so we have expectations taught for all areas of the building.
Indirect Services for Students
Indirect Services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselor's interactions with other including referrals for addition assistance, consultation and collaboration with parents, other educators and community organizations. These include meeting with parents, phone calls with parents and previous school's staff, consultation with student's therapist/physician/psychiatrist, testing, special programs, etc.
SCHOOL COUNSELING VS. THERAPY
Basic More in-depth
Short-term Long-term
Teaches specific skills Intense Needs
Recommended for students who require additional long-term support (contact your pediatrician)
**School Counseling is NOT a replacement for Therapy.**
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Anamosa Community School District Comprehensive School Counseling Program is to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program that addresses the academic, career and social-emotional development of all students. School counselors are professional school advocates who provide support to maximize student potential and academic achievement to provide all students educational opportunities to learn and achieve in a rapidly changing global society.
DISTRICT VISION STATEMENT
Rooted in Excellence, Ready for the Future.
PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
The school counselors in the Anamosa Community School District believe that school counseling:
Is a program rather than a service, providing a vital link to the total instructional system in the school.
Provides a consistent guidance curriculum based on the developmental and educational needs for every student.
Ensures that those students that are in need of assistance are provided interventions.
Is an integral part of the student’s total educational program.
Includes parents/guardians, teachers and community involvement.
Is designed to meet the needs of every student PK-12.
Shall be consistent with the expected developmental stages of learning.
Provides developmental as well as preventative remedial services.
Will involve the school, family and business community.
Will be aligned with the ASCA National Model and ASCA Ethical guidelines.
Will include counselor professional development as necessary to maintain quality programs.
Shall be evaluated by counselors and administrators on stated objectives and related student achievement.
Anamosa School Counseling Belief Statement
To implement the school counseling program at the Anamosa Community School District, the school counselors are committed to the following:
We believe:
All students have the right to be served by the school counseling program
The school counseling program should be consistent with the expected development stages of learning
School counseling program activities shall be planned and coordinated by the counseling staff
The school counseling program shall be managed by state-certified counselors
All students:
Should have access to a school counselor to discuss personal concerns
Should have access to information about occupational and education planning
Have the right to assistance in identifying their needs in the social-emotional domain
The students and parent(s) are responsible for monitoring the student’s educational progress with the assistance of the professional school counselor
An ongoing programs of counselor competency training/retraining is necessary to maintain a quality school counseling program
The professional mandates and guidelines proposed by the national and state school counselor association shall continue to set standards for the school counseling program
