Mitchell Counseling

School Counseling at Mitchell

Counseling at Mitchell School supports the mental health, well-being, and social-emotional learning of all students K-5. Mitchell students are supported by the counselors in a number of ways: through school-wide mental health and SEL programming, classroom lessons, as well as small group and individual counseling services. The counselors work closely with teachers, parents, and community resources to help students enjoy school and be successful academically, personally, and socially.

School-Wide Programming

The counseling department at Mitchell coordinates and supports school-wide social-emotional learning and mental health initiatives that serve all students.

School-wide programming at Mitchell includes 10 community meetings that take place across the school year organized around monthly SEL themes, initiatives, and challenges (e.g. kindness, empathy, growth mindset, etc.). Community Meetings provide an opportunity for students and teachers to come together and share ideas, strengthen relationships, set goals, and build a sense of togetherness. Students learn to translate classroom behavior expectations into audience behaviors, practice leadership and public speaking, and grow a vision of themselves as contributing members of a larger community.

School-wide programming is an SEL intervention that focuses on developing a shared vision for school climate, building positive relationships between students and teachers, and integrating SEL into academic instruction and activities across the school day through common practices and language.

Please see the School-Wide Programming and Counseling Newsletter tabs for more information.

Small Group

Counseling

Children may be paired with a peer or grouped in lunch time gatherings for counseling meetings. Small group counseling opportunities provide students with a space to both make connections with peers as well as work toward specific social-emotional goals during a regular meeting time with peers and a caring adult. Groups may be organized around a central theme or concern (e.g. anxiety management, positive learning behaviors) or provide an opportunity for students to practice social skills and build relationships in a smaller and more supported setting.

Small group counseling is an effective behavioral and SEL intervention program for students across all grade levels (K-5).

Individual

Counseling

Teachers, parents, and students themselves may refer a child for counseling to support any concerns interfering with school functioning. Students may be seen for issues related, but not limited, to:

stress and anxiety
self-esteem
attention and focus
behavioral choices
social relationships
family changes (e.g. divorce, loss)

Counseling services are designed to provide children a space to build a relationship with a trusted adult at school, discuss concerns, problem-solve, and develop positive coping skills. Individual counseling services may be short or longer-term depending on a number of factors.

The counselors can also conduct initial screenings for mental health conditions (e.g. ADHD, anxiety, depression) and provide referrals for additional supports and resources.

Classroom

Lessons

Classrooms at Mitchell draw from a number of curriculums to teach critical social-emotional learning skills:

Second Step classroom lessons help students build social-emotional skills—nurturing positive relationships, managing emotions, and meeting goals— so they can thrive in school and in life. Mitchell School uses the Second Step Elementary, Child Protection, and Anti-Bullying curriculums.

Responsive Classroom is a student-centered, social-emotional learning approach to teaching and discipline. It is comprised of a set of research, and evidence-based practices designed to create safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms and school communities for both students and teachers. Mitchell utilizes Responsive Classroom principles as a framework for building socially and emotionally rich classrooms.

Social Thinking methodology promotes individuals' social, emotional and academic learning, whether neurotypical or neurodivergent, across developmental ages to support the development of social competencies, flexible thinking, executive functioning, self-regulation, and social problem-solving skills. Mitchell teachers and counselors incorporate Social Thinking vocabulary and techniques throughout the school day.

Parent and Teacher

Consultation

The counselors at Mitchell consult regularly with teachers and parents to address concerns affecting children in the classroom and at home. Consultation is an indirect, though critical, component of comprehensive programming to address student social-emotional and mental-health needs.

Classroom teachers may consult with counselors about a variety of student concerns from classroom behavior to social dynamics to academic progress. Counselors may collaborate with teachers on implementing positive behavioral supports for students, classroom management techniques, or facilitating conversations that strengthen the relationships between students and teachers.

Parents may reach out to the counselors for advice around a particular issue with a student, guidance on how to acquire supports and resources, or for clinical expertise and treatment suggestions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which students receive counseling at Mitchell?

Many students receive counseling throughout their time at Mitchell for a variety of reasons. Counseling is available to all students at Mitchell and may be provided individually, in a group, or in the classroom, in a short or longer-term format. See more information about the types of counseling and mental health support at Mitchell below.

Is parent permission needed for my child to interact with the school counselor at Mitchell?

No, school counselors are part of the education team at Mitchell available to all students. This allows school counselors to check in with students in a time-sensitive manner as deemed necessary and appropriate (similar to how a student may visit the nurse as needed). However, anytime it is recommended that a student receive school counseling on an on-going basis, parents permission and input will be sought.

Is school counseling therapy?

No. The American School Counselor Association defines school counseling as focused short-term emotional and social support delivered within a school setting, while clinical therapy provides comprehensive, long-term mental health treatment. However, the school counselors at Mitchell are licensed therapists and are able to provide evidence-based mental health support, education, and resources to students and families.

Is school counseling confidential?

No. Given the setting and purposes of school counseling, the limits of confidentiality differ from those in outpatient or other mental health settings. While every effort is taken to protect student privacy, information shared in school counseling may be shared with parents, teachers, or administrators if safety or school functioning is concerned.

How can my child access school counseling?

All students at Mitchell receive regular social emotional and mental health support throughout the school year through Mitchell's SEL curriculum and programming initiatives. For students who require additional support, referrals can be made to the counseling department by speaking with the student's classroom teacher or by contacting the counselors directly over email (audrey_delaney@needham.k12.ma.us; nancy_goldstein@needham.k12.ma.us). For initial referrals, it is most helpful to include both counselors on emails. For emergency situations, please call the front office at 781-455-0466.

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