School Counseling
with Ms. Azadmanesh
Hello, wonderful families of Hollywood Hill Elementary!
As an Elementary School Counselor, my role is to partner with staff and families to help students develop socially, emotionally, and academically. Uplifting students is my passion, and I am excited to bring positivity and care to school each day for your student(s).
I earned my bachelor's degree in Community Psychology at the University of Washington and my master's degree in Education for School Counseling at Seattle Pacific University.
The Essential Role of the School Counselor
School counselors are educators who improve student success for ALL students by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. Comprehensive school counseling programs include providing:
school counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards
short-term individual counseling and goal setting
small group counseling
referrals for long-term support
collaboration with families/teachers/administrators/community for student success
advocacy for students at individualized education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings
data analysis to identify student issues, needs, and challenges
and acting as a systems change agent to improve equity and access, achievement, and opportunities for all students
School Counseling Program
Classroom Guidance Lessons
As a school counselor and educator, I love supporting students' development of social, emotional, and learning skills. I visit classrooms for various lessons several many throughout the year to ensure that the school counseling curriculum is delivered to every student in the building. The district-aligned K-2 curriculum focuses on conflict management skills, and the 3-5 curriculum focuses on bullying prevention. The underlying goals of the programs are to create students who can have the skills to resolve conflict with others and understand what it means to feel safe and welcome at school and subsequently create that reality within the school culture. I also really love building need-based lessons using a variety of resources to expand opportunities for social-emotional learning across many topics.
Small Groups
Small groups are a fantastic tool in a comprehensive school counseling program. Like the classroom guidance curriculum, small groups are formed based on student needs and will vary each school year. Groups are, by nature, a great way to foster friendships and teach social skills.
Individual Counseling
School counselors are trained with basic counseling skills to support students when they need to talk with someone at school who will listen with care. Beyond the occasional support any student may need on a tough day or during a hard time, a school counselor can provide short-term individual counseling services for those who need help with targeted social and emotional skill building.
Frequent wonderings and questions:
Do school counselors provide therapy?
No, we cannot provide therapy. The American School Counseling Association states that individual counseling support for students should be limited to a brief short-term context (6-8 sessions). School counselors are not licensed to diagnose or treat mental illness or psychological disorders as a therapist can in private practice or outside agency. School counselors can provide caregivers with mental health therapist referrals if a student needs long-term, intensive, or more substantive services. For a comprehensive list of providers, please check out the Mental Health Referrals tab under Caregiver Resources.
Is it School Counselor or Guidance Counselor?
Then: In the past, we used the term "Guidance Counselor" because counselors "guided" students towards their college and career by providing letters of recommendation, sending out transcripts, etc.
Now: School counselors are professionals that provide a preventative, comprehensive program that supports ALL students.