1:1 Counseling Services

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

• How is a student referred to counseling?

  Often parents contact the counselor directly and request counseling for their child. After an initial consultation with the parent, the counselor and parent will decide if counseling is appropriate for the child, or if outside service would be more beneficial. Other times a teacher may suggest to a parent that their child could benefit from counseling. If the counselor and parent agree with the teacher’s assessment, counseling will begin. Sometimes, older students seek out the counselor on their own. If a student needs ongoing support and is under 12 years of age, the counselor will require written permission from the parents.

• What happens in a counseling session?

  Individual students will meet with the counselor during the school day or right after school in her private office. The counselor will listen to the student’s concerns and help him or her define the problem and search for solutions. Often times, the student may have to work on some needed skills like conflict resolution, empathy or communications skills to solve their problems.
  
  During counseling, therapeutic games, art activities, and books are often used to teach a student about emotions and communication skills. The younger the child, the more activities are included in counseling to keep the student engaged in the process of self-discovery and growth.

• What about confidentiality?

  Counseling is a confidential process. There are times when a counselor is required by law to break confidentiality, as in a case where the counselor thinks that the student will harm himself or others, or if s/he is being harmed by someone, then the counselor must inform Child Protective Services.

• Is counseling different for elementary versus middle school students?

  Yes. Older students are more verbal and better equipped to engage in discussions about their problems, than younger students. Younger students respond best to counseling when games, art and engaging activities are a part of the counseling process.