Counseling Services
Each school provides Guidance & Counseling services. School counselors are an important part of the educational leadership team and provide valuable assistance to students regardless of whether they work in one of our elementary schools, our junior high, or our high school. Although the work of the counselor may vary by his or her school and grade assignments, the following are typical services.
Classroom Guidance
Counselors
actually spend a significant amount of time in the classroom, providing
lessons regarding student relationships, mental health topics, and
guidance on being successful as a student.
Counseling
The counselor works with students individually and in small groups. Small group counseling sessions may assist students in learning how to cope with issues such as conflict resolution, social skills, anger management or loss. Students, staff members or parents may initiate a referral to see the counselor. In many cases, working with the school counselor will not be a substitute for outside mental health care. When that is the case, the counselor can often work in conjunction with community professionals.
Conversations with a counselor are typically confidential with the exception of situations in which the student has authorized the counselor to speak to someone else. In addition, there are a number of special situations which limit confidentiality, including:
- Threat of harm to oneself
- Threat of harm to another
- Any report of abuse or neglect or suspected abuse or neglect
- Reports or indications of behavior which could reasonably put the individual at risk to harm self or others
- Court orders which compel sending records or appearing in court
Coordination
Our counselors are frequently involved in the coordination and leadership of other activities within the school. These may include the administration of standardized testing, coordination of student support teams, and working with students on course selection and scheduling.
Consultation
The counselor communicates regularly with parents/guardians to address any concerns they may have regarding their child’s education. The counselor also consults with administrators, teachers, and staff members to ensure a positive educational experience for all students.