What does the school counselor do?

As a School Counselor, I perform the following roles in order to promote positive development in academic, career, and personal/social domains:

Classroom Lessons:

I teach lessons in classrooms to teach skills such as conflict resolution, responsibility, character education, safety, bullying prevention, and social skills.

Small Group Counseling:

Group counseling is available to groups of students with similar challenges and may be requested by students, parents, or teachers. Groups generally last about 6-8 weeks and focus on topics such as self-esteem, emotion management, family change, grief & loss, and social skills. Groups are tailored to meet the students' specific needs. Please contact me if you feel your child might benefit from a small group experience. 
 

Individual Student Sessions:

Short-term individual student sessions are available for students at the request of parents, students, and teachers to meet the needs of all students expressing difficulty with academic achievement, personal concerns, or typical developmental transitions. Please keep in mind that these individual sessions are not therapy. Generally, individual sessions involve a brief discussion or activity to help the student achieve his/her goal so they may reach their fullest potential during the school day. Oftentimes, students come to me for minor issues; however, I will contact parents/guardians with any major concerns.  

Important Note: As a school counselor, I do not provide therapy to students. School counseling services are not a replacement for community therapeutic services. If your child is in need of more intensive intervention, I am happy to help you find a community service provider to meet your child's needs. 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Promote positive behavior through our Big 6 store on Fun Fridays
• Mentor our Student Leadership team 
• Observe students in various school environments (e.g., classroom, recess, cafeteria, etc.)
• Consult and collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators, support staff, and students
• Respond to school crises or emergency situations
• Provide information and resources to parents on a variety of issues.
• Serve on various Teams on campus, including Student Study Team, Positive Behavior Interventions and Support, Leadership Team, etc.