School counseling is a relationship built on confidentiality and trust—student trust, parent trust, and teacher trust.  Adequate information is the foundation of trust—all involved must have information about the limits and processes of counseling. 

What will school-based counseling for your child involve?  School-based counseling may include small group or individual sessions.  During the sessions your child and the School Counselor will work together to help your child identify the problem, develop goals, and create a plan of action for change. School-based counseling is designed to be a short-term and solution-focused process that removes barriers to learning and develops skills and behaviors critical for academic achievement. The School Counselor is able to collaborate with outside support providers with your permission.

How does a student receive counseling at school?  Students may be referred to the School Counselor for individual and/or small group school-based counseling by the school staff or a 4^th-6^th grade student may refer themselves.  If parents have concerns, they should meet with their child’s teacher, and the teacher may refer the child for school-based counseling.

 Who provides the counseling at school?  School Counselors provide school-based counseling, and are at assigned schools on designated days and times.  The School Counselor works with students individually and in groups and will address topics such as family transitions, grief, anxiety, and emotional regulation.

 In addition to school-based counseling, we are fortunate to have Guidance Assistant support staff that typically work with students in a group setting on topics such as social skills, conflict resolution and executive functioning.