Overview

What We Offer:

  • Individual Counseling
  • Group Counseling
  • Crisis Intervention Services
  • Access to programs and outside services, through referrals
  • Behavior Management/Modification
  • Skills training

How can counseling benefit your child?

  1. Academic skills training: Many students do not have study skills. Some students aren't born scholars. Sometimes parents are too busy supporting the family they forget to review the importance of setting study schedules with their children. Counselors can form partnerships with parents and teachers and create realistic learning goals together. Counselors can empower students and parents to make education a priority.
  2. Empathy skills training: Emotional intelligence has been linked with great leadership in the workforce (Schawbel, 2011). Emotional regulation, stronger communication skills and interpersonal relationships are also correlated with higher empathy.
  3. Social skills training: With our continued use of electronics and social media, many students are needing social skills training (Bindley, 2011). Face-to-face communication is becoming less common, and there is an increased need in social skills training for students.
  4. Bullying prevention/Intervention: Bullying effects many students (StopBullying.gov), and many of us may remember how it felt to be teased or pushed in school. Counselors work to resolve conflicts and identify safety concerns in order to ensure our students have the best experience possible.
  5. Crisis interventions: Self-harm and suicide is part of the dialogue in k-12 education. Some staff may not be equipped to speak about negative emotions or harming oneself with students. Our counselors are trained to follow protocol and safety measures to support the needs of the students.
  6. Community outreach: Many families may be unaware of community resources to promote the emotional, social, academic or behavior needs of their children. Outreach counselors seek partnerships with community resources to build a stronger foundation for learning and health for our families.
  7. Parenting skills support: It is never easy being a parent. Sometimes it can be difficult to reason with your child to put his clothes in the hamper or even take a bath on time. It's not easy, and counselors can offer tips to ensure positive learning environments can be created at home. Counselors can also connect parents with resources on parenting children of specific ages or needs.

School based counseling works!

Center for School Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation (SCORE) conducted a meta-analysis of 153 school counseling interventions and found increases in academic achievement, positive social skills and decreases in violent behaviors (2009). The past decade has been laced with school shootings or school violence. PBS stated most shooters have a history of mental health problems. It may be uncomfortable to think our children have suicidal thoughts, anxiety, or are being bullied, but ignoring these issues may lead to the unwanted outcomes. It may also be very isolating or lonely to have these feelings and not have someone to turn to.

Counselors may not always have the tools to help every student and family, but each person helped can have exponential results. The positivity and growth can spread to others for generations. Having extra support or attention for a student could affect him or her for a lifetime. After working with counselors, families may also become more connected with their communities to become involved with their children's education and career planning.

Information referenced from, Organized Messes (2013) "8 Benefits of School Counseling"