Counseling

Our Counselors:

Allison Anderson
Lauren Ellenberger
Olivia Marvin

Who is a school counselor?

A school counselor must earn a Master’s Degree in school counseling and hold state certification in school counseling to include counseling theories and practices, human behavior, career education, individual appraisal, and social/cultural issues. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.

The primary role of school counselors is to help students learn and develop to their highest potential socially, emotionally, and academically. The school counseling program provides students with early interventions as well as preventative strategies to ensure that all students achieve success in school and in life.

Individual Counseling
Individual counseling is available to all students in need. A request for individual counseling may be made by a parent, teacher, administrator or student. Students are able to express concerns in a safe environment where problem solving can take place. Topics of concern may include: friendship, grief, anger management, anxiety, family changes and school attendance.

Techniques often used during individual counseling sessions are:
role playing, puppetry, storytelling, goal setting, counseling game playing, creation of art work and discussion.

Although we provide a multitude of services for students, intensive, long-term counseling is not available through the school counseling program.

Group Counseling
Small group counseling consists of several students, facilitated by the counselor, who are facing normal developmental issues. The small group setting serves as a way for students to talk about feelings and concerns with other children who have similar needs.

Each session is approximately 30 minutes and takes place once a week over six-eight weeks. Group times are coordinated with classroom teachers so as to disrupt as little instructional time as possible.

Some examples of small groups are:

  • Anger Management
  • Changing Families (divorce/separation/adoption)
  • Friendship (social skills)
  • Feeling Better About Me (self-concept/getting along better)
  • Grief and Loss

CLASSROOM GUIDANCE LESSONS
Classroom guidance lessons are extremely important in the school setting. Classroom guidance allows a counselor to be proactive in a variety of areas to a large number of students. Guidance lessons are effective and time efficient.

Academic/Educational Domain (K-5)
Personal/Social Development Domain (K-5)
Career Development Domain (K-5)In assuming these responsibilities, the school counselor strives to:

  • Aid children in academic development
  • Foster more effective learning climates for children
  • Help children develop healthy self-concepts
  • Assist children in developing self-direction
  • Provide opportunities for children to establish good relationships with others
  • Encourage wholesome attitudes toward the world of work and a desire to contribute
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