Counseling

Lower School Counselors collaborate with classroom teachers and staff in order to create and maintain an environment that encourages both academic and social-emotional learning. They promote developmentally appropriate student behavior using ​Responsive Classroom ​as a model for classroom management and school-wide expectations.

They engage in ongoing consultation with students, teachers, parents, and ASM’s administration to address student learning differences, social-emotional development, emotional literacy, and behavioral functioning in order to meet individual student needs.

They deliver standards-based classroom lessons to all students as part of a comprehensive counseling program. Counselors also deliver individual and group school counseling to students who may need more support regarding their social and emotional health and well-being. They are also generally the first to respond and provide support to students who are in emotional crises and child protection-related situations.

If there are student needs beyond what the school can provide, they communicate with community service providers working with Lower School students (i.e. speech therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, etc.). Additionally, they participate in orientation and departure programs for Lower School students and their families in order to support students’ transition and adjustment.

CONFIDENTIALITY

In order for students to feel comfortable and safe enough to talk about the delicate subjects that concern them (e.g. feelings, friendships, difficult situations at home and in school, etc.), it is important for the counselor to respect their concerns by honoring their rights of confidentiality. Maintaining confidentiality, being honest, and treating students with respect are what create the relationships and bonds that allow us to have a positive impact and help our students manage difficult situations.

However, if during the course of consultation or conversation there is any reason to suspect that the student is at risk in any way, if he or she is considering self-injury, or is a danger to others, the counselor has an ethical and legal obligation to break confidentiality as needed in order to ensure the physical and emotional safety of our students. In these situations, we are required to seek additional support and report the incident.

For more information contact:

Melissa Marsh- melissamarsh@asmadrid.es

Angela Tang- angelatang@asmadrid.es