What Does a School Counselor Do?
Individual Counseling Support
School counselors provide short-term counseling to students on a variety of topics including friendship, conflict resolution, anxiety, managing emotions, coping skills, transitions, etc. We utilize a variety of techniques, including solution-focused brief counseling and cognitive-behavioral strategies to address barriers to learning. Sessions are brief in nature and are not considered therapy. If a student's needs require support beyond school counseling services, we can provide you with a referral for community resources! Students may make a self-referral to see their school counselor. A parent or teacher may also refer a student for school counseling services.
Small Group Counseling
School counselors offer small groups to work on a variety of topics such as resiliency, friendship, social skills, grief, family changes, and managing emotions. Small groups meet during non-academic time (i.e. lunch, snack, or recess when appropriate) with 4-6 students for 6-8 weeks. We run as many groups as possible throughout the year. However, we can typically only run one small group per grade level at a time. Your patience is appreciated!
Classroom Lessons (Life Skills/Guidance)
School counselors deliver classroom lessons to all students that are preventative and proactive. Lesson topics vary by grade level and are often responsive to identified needs, but may include bullying prevention, character education, friendship skills, emotional regulation, diversity, and empathy.
Consultation
School counselors collaborate with parents, teachers, and community members to support student success and wellbeing. We invite parents to meet with us at any point throughout the year to discuss strategies to support their child's academic, social, or emotional development. Other topics of consultation include: helping your child be on time to school, improving parent-child communication, and collaborating about family difficulties or concerns that may affect your child at school.
Community Resources
Your school counselor can connect you with area resources (i.e., counseling/therapy, parenting, food, safety, clothing, etc.). Please give your school counselor a call or send an email if you are looking for support and are not sure where to go!
Notice of Confidentiality
Confidentiality and your family's privacy are a crucial aspect of the counseling relationship. Information discussed in counseling sessions is considered confidential, unless we suspect that a child is harming themselves/others, or if someone else is harming the child. We encourage students to share about counseling sessions with their parents and/or teachers, or request permission from the student to disclose information when appropriate.
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