Classroom Counseling Lessons
Throughout the school year, Mrs. Cowell visits each classroom monthly to lead age appropriate lessons with students. These lessons are focused on building and enhancing specific skills in one of the following areas:
Social and Emotional Learning Skills (ex: Self Awareness, Self Management, Relationship Skills, Decision Making, etc.)
Executive Functioning (ex: Personal Responsibility, Organizational Skills, Intrinsic Motivation, etc.)
College and Career Awareness/Exploration
These classroom lessons are offered as a universal support to all of our students, which helps to promote a cohesive, comfortable and predictable school environment. Specific information about recent classroom counseling lessons will be shared in the building newsletter, along with tips for supporting and reinforcing learning at home.
Small Group Counseling
This service is provided to Kindergarten - 4th Grade students and provides additional support in a structured setting. Group sizes generally range from 3-8 members. Throughout their time in small groups, students participate in structured activities and projects designed to build specific social and emotional learning skills.
Groups begin in the fall, winter and spring. As each season begins, the counselor will send out information about the topics to be covered. Please register your child if you feel they could benefit from the experience. Common group topics include:
- Self Esteem
- Coping Skills
- Friendship
- Self Regulation
Specific group topics are always chosen based on the current needs of the students. If your child is included in a small group, I will always communicate with you before this begins and after the last group meeting, so you will be able to discuss this experience with your child and reinforce learning skills at home!
Individual Counseling
There are times when students may benefit from more individualized support here at school. Individual counseling is a service available to all students (Kindergarten - 4th Grade). This service provides children with added encouragement, which may help them to more successfully navigate through obstacles related to their own learning, friendships, and/or other life challenges. Common areas of support addressed in individual counseling are:
Anxiety/Stress
Coping Skills
Grief
Family Changes
Impulse Control
Self Esteem
Problem Solving
Academic Challenges
This school counseling service is offered as an added support for our students, and is different from more in-depth and extensive counseling that can be provided by a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Our counselor is happy to work with you throughout the year to determine which service is most appropriate for your child. If needed, Mrs. Cowell provide you information about local counseling agencies, where more extensive support is available.
Confidentiality
The individual concerns and information about students are very important and will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality. Information will not be shared with outside agencies or individuals without written permission from parents. Furthermore, confidential information not related to academics will not be shared with teachers without parental consent.