Counselor

We are happy to offer individual counseling to students who are experiencing emotional difficulties that interfere with their learning. Students meet with a counselor once a week for 20 minutes. Typically, a child will have no more than 6-8 sessions. If more intensive work is needed, we will make a referral to an outside counselor. 

Because trust is so important in counseling relationships, I make every effort to keep confidential all information that is shared with me by a child and by his/her parents. There are limits to confidentiality, such as when a child tells me about abuse or another dangerous situation or when I am compelled by a court of law. I will always work with you and your child to make sure our communication is as private as possible.

We also offer sharing groups to struggling children because we believe children can create their own solutions and that healing occurs when children experience understanding and support from their peers. These are groups that typically meet once a week during lunch or recess. Through a series of games and other carefully researched activities, children share their feelings and experiences with one another. They are also taught skills that enable them to cope with difficulties. Students will be expected to respect the confidential nature of our discussions when they return to their classes. Students can only participate with parent permission. The following groups are offered at various times during each school year. Feel free to contact me if you feel your child could benefit from any of these groups.

• Family Dynamics (grades 1-4) - This group is for children who are living in single parent or blended families
• Creative Problem Solving (grades 1-4) - This group is for children who need help asserting themselves-letting others know they have a problem in socially acceptable and effective ways.
• Forever Friends (grades 1- 4) - This group is for children who need assistance in making and interacting with friends.
• Seasons (all grades) - This group focuses on loss of a close family member and how to cope over time.
• School Smarts (grades 3 & 4) - Study skills such as organization, time awareness and test taking will be covered.
• In Control (grades 1-4) - This group is for children with ADHD/ADD and others who need help with self-control
• Worry Free - This group is for children who struggle with excessive worry or anxiety
• The Chosen Ones (all grades) - Adoption is a unique experience in the life of a child, and it often helps to know that others share that experience.
• Sibshops - A support group for students who have a sibling with special needs.
• Lemonade Stand - A support group for students who have an incarcerated parent.

Project Peace is a program which allows specially chosen and trained students (peer mediators) to help other students find positive ways to solve disagreements. I have seen this program have a powerful effect on children’s problem solving abilities.

We train new peer mediators each spring. These are 3rd graders who are selected through a rigorous process. Peer mediators must be good listeners, team oriented, dependable, and trustworthy. Peer mediators must be trusted to keep information confidential. Peer mediators act as facilitators in helping disputants resolve minor disputes.

Students can refer themselves to Project Peace or it can be offered by their teacher or parent. Project Peace is always voluntary and is considered by our staff to be a positive alternative for resolving conflicts. A certified staff member is always present during peer mediations. This program is designed to build understanding between disputants and to teach essential problem-solving skills.

Diversity is about accepting and respecting the differences between people. In the counseling office, we feel that all people should understand that people often are different from what you might expect, and it is good to treat them how they like to be treated. We should never make people feel inferior or ridicule them because they are different from us.

The diversity club is a group of students devoted to celebrating diversity. This group is working to help kids understand that everyone wants and deserves to be respected. Students in this club promote diversity by helping with guidance lessons, bulletin boards and research projects, designed to educate everyone about different cultures.