As guidance counselors we are an integral part of the total school program,
providing direct assistance to students, parents, and educational staff to
promote a positive school environment. This is accomplished through
strategies that influence the academic, social, emotional, and developmental
needs of students. Student counseling (individually or in small groups),
parent and staff consultation, and classroom guidance instruction are
interventions used to promote positive adjustment and to assist in
maximizing each student's potential.
Small Group Counseling
Small group counseling experiences are organized by grade or an ajoining
grade level for a limited number of students. Most groups are made up of 4-6
students and meet once a week for 6-8 weeks. Groups offer students the
ability to learn from each other, share ideas, give and receive feedback,
increase their awareness, gain new knowledge, practice skills, and think
about goals and actions. Group discussion may be problem centered or growth
centered, where attention is given to particular concerns or where general
topics are related to personal and academic growth. Some group counseling
topics include, but are not limited to:
� Friendship
� Changing Families
� Self-Control
� Decision-Making/Problem Solving
� Social Skills
� Grief/Loss
� New Students
� Military Family Transition
Bullying
Individual Counseling
As guidance counselors, we work with students individually for a number of
reason, such as friendship issues, difficulty in the classroom, on the
playground, or on the bus, conflict resolution, new student orientation,
difficulty coming to school, anger management, to name a few. Referrals for
students to meet with a school counselor can be made by classroom teachers
or other school staff (i.e., school nurse or principal), by parents, or
through student self-referrals (yes, even at the lower elementary level!).
