Counseling Roles

Guidance Lessons -

Guidance lessons are done once a month in the classroom for each grade level. Guidance lessons focus on personal and social development topics. Below is a list of possible guidance lesson topics:

Beginning of the Year - Counselor introduces/re-introduces herself to the students.

Bullying - Lessons that focus on respect and bullying prevention.

Character Education - In my school district, we have a specific core value for each month. I offer classroom lessons to address these areas of character education.

Fairness - Lessons for when kids say: "That's not fair!"

Following Directions - Focusing on the importance of both giving and following directions.

Gifted Education - Lessons for gifted education classrooms.

Identifying and Expressing Feelings - Helping students understand how to positively identify and express their feelings.

Making and Keeping Friends - Lessons that reflect on the qualities of good friends.

Positive School Behaviors - Discussing the positive behaviors that lead to school success.

Self-Esteem - Focusing on the effects of both high and low self-esteem.

Tattling - Helping students understand the difference between big problems and small problems.

Test Anxiety - Activities to tame test anxiety.

Small Group Counseling -

I organize small groups based on student need. When selecting students for group participation, parent permission must be obtained. Small groups focus on a variety of topics including but not limited to:

Anger Management - Small group sessions to help students learn how to identify and appropriately express their anger.

Anxiety - Providing students with the tools they need to overcome their anxious feelings.

Divorce - Helping students cope with their parents' divorce.

Grief - Small group sessions to help students with their grief.

Making and Keeping Friends - Reflecting on the characteristics of good friends.

Self-Esteem - Small group sessions to boost students' confidence.

Social Skills - Lessons to build an understanding of positive school behaviors.

Individual Counseling -

I meet individually with students on an as-needed basis. Parents and teachers can request for me to meet with a student or students may request to meet with me by filling out a counselor pass from their teacher. During individual counseling sessions I use objects or activities to help start conversations. I give students choices about what they can have, such as LEGOs, art supplies, stress balls, or my sandtray. These objects give me insights into my students' thoughts and feelings and also make the 1:1 counseling environment less intimidating.