What does a Counselor do?/Why would a student visit the Counselor?/How does a student see a Counselor?/Counseling Services:Individual Counseling-Group Counseling-Classroom Lessons

What does a Counselor do?  A counselor visits classrooms to help students understand themselves and others.

• Works with small groups on self-concept, changing families, loss/grief, friendship skills, problem solving, inproving academic performance.
• Meets with new students to help them adjust to our school.
• Talks with parents and teachers about students concerns and progress.
• Helps families locate the help and resources they need.

       A COUNSELOR WORKS WITH ALL STUDENTS!

When do students see a Counselor? When ...

• they have good news to share.
• they have trouble with their friends.
• they have trouble with school work.
• they begin not to like coming to school.
• they have trouble getting along with others.
• they need to talk to someone.
• they are sad from a loss or worried about something.
• they are upset or angry.

How does a student see a Counselor?

• a teacher can ask the counselor to see a student.
• parents can ask the counselor to see their child.
• a student can stop by the office to see the counselor.
• a student can ask his/her teacher if I can go to the counselor's office.

Counseling Services: Individual & Group Counseling

Individual Counseling: Short term individual counseling is provided to access the nature of a student's concern and to build skills to help the student.  If appropriate, helpful resources or referrals are given to parent/guardians.  Students are not seen more than twice on one issue without contacting a parent/guardian.  Examples of student concerns that could involve individual counseling may be school phobia, bullying, family crisis, inappropriate behaviors, worries, grief/loss.

Group Counseling:  For some students who share a common concern it can be helpful for them to meet together with the counselor to share ideas and support and to learn helpful skills.   Games, activies and projects are used to learn skills.  Possible groups may address divorce or family changes, friendship skills, anger, classroom success, bullying prevention.  Students are not placed in groups with out parent/guardian permission.  Groups meet once a week typically for 6-10 weeks.

Classroom Lessons:  Each class receives pro-social skills lessons throughout the school year.  These activities are designed to help students succeed and get along in the classroom and in other settings.  Pro-social skills lesson are intended for all students and do not require student to reveal any personal information and do not require parent/guardian permission.  Classroom lessons are based on the use of programs/curriculums such as: Kelso's Choices, Second Step, Good Talking Words, I CARE Cat, NYS School Counselor Association Comprehensive School Counseling Program Activities and Healthy Smart lessons, each designed for Primary aged children.  These lessons are designed to meet the American School Counseling Association National Learning Standards and the NYS School Counselor Association Learning Standards.

*counseling is confidential, counselors share with parents how they are working with a child and  information about the child's progress.

**regular counseling or counseling programs are scheduled according the the classroom teacher's instructions so that academic work is not missed.