SMALL GROUP COUNSELING

"Group counseling is vital in the delivery of the ASCA National Model and is an efficient and positive way to address student academic, career and personal/social development issues" (American School Counselor Association, 2008, p. 1).

The School Counselor meets with students throughout the year for brief individual counseling and small groups. Permission slips are always sent home with students to a parent/guardian before a student participates in a small group. If you decide that you would NOT want your child/children to participate in a small group, or have questions/concerns please feel free to contact me. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to discuss their students with the School Counselor. 

Small group and individual counseling focus on three domains: academic, personal/social, and career development. Students are referred to small groups or individual counseling by teachers, other school staff, and/or parents.  Small groups are assembled based on the needs of students. 

Working with students in small groups is one strategy for helping students become more successful. Small group work can benefit students by bringing them together to work on a shared goal or issue and give students the opportunity to share their ideas and support one another. Please note that while counseling groups may be therapeudic, they are not therapy groups. Rather small, interactive learning environments where children develop important life skills that enhance their ability to succeed academically and socially as well as cope with stressful situations. Groups are structured and goal-focused.  

Sample Small Group Counseling Topics 

• Bright Horizons: Coping with Grief & Loss

• Cancer Support

• Calculating Control (Impulse/Self-Control)

• Careers R Cool: Self-Exploration with Careers

• Changing Families (Divorce/Separation)

• Chill Out! Handling Emotions

• F.O.C.U.S. Study Skills & Test Taking

• Friendship Factors: Making & Keeping Friends

• Homework Express

• Kindergarten Kids (Kindergarten Only)

• Let's Get Organized

• Managing Conflicts

• Marvelous Me: Self-Esteem (Building Self-Concept & Confidence)

• Mindfulness 

• Playground Skills

• Sailing New Seas: New Student

• Social Skills

• Stress Busters: Stress Management 

• Super Sisters (Grades 4-5 Girls Only - Develop empathy, handling gossip, positive peer relations)

• The Lunch Bunch (Lunch with the Counselor)

• Worry Busters: Anxiety (Tools to Overcome Anxiety) 

How Group Members Help Each Other

• Expressing their thoughts and perceptions

• Sharing similar problems

• Suggesting alternative solutions

• Supporting each other

• Confronting consistencies

• Learning how to substitute appropriate behaviors for previous inappropriate behaviors

• Learning how to relate more easily by interacting and receiving feedback

• Verbalizing concerns in a caring atmosphere

• Setting reasonable goals and encouraging each other to practice positive behaviors

Factors That Help Participants In Group Counseling

• Acceptance: by members and leaders

• Universality: not the only one with the problem

• Self-disclosure: trust leader and members, so reveal self honestly

• Insight: self-understanding

• Interpersonal interaction: learn from other members

• Catharsis: emotional release and feeling of relief afterwards

• Guidance: receiving and providing information and suggestions for improvement

• Participant learning: learning from observing and listening when working with others

• Altruism: feeling of worthiness when helping others

• Hope: taking positive action and believing all things will improve