What is the role of the School Counselor?
A school counselor is responsible for assisting students achieve success in
academic, social, and emotional areas.
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What does a school counselor do in the schools?
Individual Counseling
Group Counseling
Lunch Bunch Groups
Consultations with parents and teachers
Classroom Guidance Lessons
Character Education
Crisis Intervention and Referral
Response to Intervention Coordinator (RTI)
504 Coordinator
Anti Bully Specialist (ABS)
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What are the goals of a school counselor?
-To help children understand themselves and others
- To help children understand the school environment
- To help children understand attitudes and behaviors
- To help children gain interpersonal and
communication skills
- To help children learn problem solving and
decision making skills
- To help children feel good about themselves and explore emotions.
- To develop school and life success skills
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How do I meet the counselor or request services?
*Informally around the school
*Parental Request (phone/ email/ note to Mrs. Schuffenhauer or teacher)
*School Staff Request (referral form- parents will be informed if a child is
being referred)
*Student Request (leave a note for Mrs. Schuffenhauer in her box)
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What are some reasons students see the school counselor?
Friendship Issues
Social Skills
School Related Issues
Conflict Resolution / Problem Solving
Coping Strategies
Listening Skills
Motivation
Change in Family Dynamics
Death / Grief
Dealing with difficult or big emotions
Meeting Behavior Expectations
...and much more!
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What are the qualifications for a school counselor?
New Jersey requires a 48 credit master's degree, internship hours, and state
certification.
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What is confidentiality?
When a child visits Mrs. Schuffenhauer, he or she is always guaranteed
confidentiality. Even in small groups, the children learn the importance of
confidentiality. Personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences shared by
others are not to be discussed with other people outside of the group.
The important point to remember is that there is a time when it is
professionally ethical for a counselor to break confidentiality. This is
when there is a serious concern for the child's safety, health, or well
being. If a child is a danger to him/her self or to others, then this is
also a time to break confidentiality.
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What do students do when seeing the counselor?
* Talk about things that are important to them.
*Explore different emotions, reasons, and reactions to them.
* Use play and art media to learn about themselves and others.
*Participate in group discussion.
*Learn different life skills.
*Read books about problems they may be having.
* Learn different coping strategies.