ELEMENTARY COUNSELING

Class Introduction:

This page is to provide you information regarding what counselors in elementary schools do.

What is a school counselor?
A school counselor is a certified and trained professional who works with parents, students, and all staff in the school building to help students maintain academic success, personal and social awareness, and career-related
interests.

School counseling services are delivered in four specific ways:
1. School Guidance Curriculum -- creating, structuring, and delivering classroom lessons focusing on specific competencies in all grades, K- 6. (personal/social, academic, career) Lessons are driven by the personal/social,
academic and career readiness/exploration needs of the school community.
2. Individual Student Planning �helping students to form behavioral and/or academic goals.
3. Responsive Services � helping to meet immediate needs of students in areas such as counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, referral, peer mediation, and collaboration.
4. System Support � working with the school community to develop and implement school-wide programs, consulting with other professionals to coordinate various supports for students and families, and just pitching in around
the school � like everybody else � to keep the machine running smoothly.

What types of counseling supports are delivered by a school counselor?
1. Individual Counseling -- Students can discuss issues in a safe, positive, and confidential setting. However, on-going therapy is not available at school. Topics may include: feelings, changing families, peer pressure, friends,
stress, academics, social skills and social issues, bullying, problem-solving, decision-making, and personal safety.
2. Small Group Counseling -- Students with similar issues and concerns work together in a small groupd. Topics are based on the needs of students, as well as requests of parents and school staff. Groups may be formed
around issues relating to divorce or changing families, grief and loss, friendship and social skills, study skills, conflict resolution, anger management, self-esteem, stress- management, deployed parents, or incarcerated parents.
3. Classroom Guidance/Classroom Counseling � All students in all grades receive guidance lessons as part of a K-6 classroom curriculum as part of the ASD Social and Emotional Learning goals. These lessons can address
personal, social, academic, and career-related needs of students.