The Windemere Ranch Middle School Counseling Program is developed from the American School Counseling Association's (ASCA) National Standards: academic, personal/social, and college/career development. 

School Counselors help with a variety of challenges including (but not limited to) to the following:

 *Schedules/Academic Support/Time Management

 *Conflicts with Peers/Home

 *Grief/Loss

 *Sexuality

 *Depression/Suicidal Ideation

 *Anxiety

 *Cutting

 *Eating Disorders

 *Illness

 *School Stress

  *Substance Abuse

A School Counselor is not a doctor or a psychologist. School Counselors meet with the student, to help  sort through problems that might be happening in their day-to-day life. Let's face it; we are all faced with problems in our lives! Sometimes there are problems that need even more attention than a School Counselor can offer. School Counselors work with other people in the field of Psychology to assist students and parents in working through some difficult personal or family concerns.

Are students in trouble when they see the School Counselor?

When a student receives a slip with their Counselor's name on it, it does not mean they have been called in because you are in trouble or "bad". In fact, a counselor is an adult who acts as their advocate! An advocate is someone who wants to listen to what they have to say and help them come up with reasonable solution to make their situation better. It does not mean that their Counselor can solve the problem for them;  it does mean that they have a safe place that they can go to when you are not sure what to do.

*Confidentiality- counselors maintain confidentiality unless disclosing the information is necessary in order to protect the student from any threat to themself or others.