About School Counseling

School counselors work with students, teachers, staff, and parents to prepare students for their future. School counselors assist students with academic issues, social emotional challenges, and help students build career and college readiness skills.  

School counseling services include: classroom guidance lessons, short term individual counseling, small group counseling, parent consultation, parent education, and community resource referrals.   

Please Note: School counselors do not provide on-going individual counseling or therapy in the school setting. Referrals to outside agencies and services are available for your child upon request for a wide range of mental health or situational concerns. 

Statement of Confidentiality:  The counseling relationship between students and their school counselor requires an atmosphere of trust and confidence. Students will be informed that exceptions to confidentiality exist in which counselors must inform others of information they obtained in the counseling relationship in order to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to students themselves or others, or if the information is legally required to be shared. 

Individual Counseling

 Individual School Counseling is:

• Offered in a confidential and supportive setting
• Conducted on a one-on-one basis
• Short-term in nature, and often occurs in 1-3 sessions
• Available to ALL students K-5
• Meant to meet any immediate student needs or concerns
• Not long-term therapy. For students with acute mental health issues (e.g. Eating Disorders, Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, etc.), a referral to an outside mental health provider can be provided to parents.

Please contact your School Counselor if you would like to refer your child for individual counseling, wright.lindsay@westada.org

Student Support Groups

Student Support Groups are offered at various times during the school year. Group Sessions are generally 30 minutes, once a week, for 6-8 weeks. Groups are offered during the school day and are typically comprised of 3-6 students. Group availability is based on interest, number of referrals, and student schedules. A signed permission slip is required for a student to participate.

Friendship Group: Students will learn and practice friendship and resolution skills.

Changing Families: For students who have experienced change in family dynamics, separation, or divorce.

Stress Reduction & Relaxation: For students who are experiencing stress or anxiety in their lives. Students will be able to express their feelings and practice effective coping skills.

Keep you Cool: Students will learn healthy ways to manage Red Zones Feelings 

Grief Group: For students who have experienced loss

Mindfulness Group: For any student interested in practicing the joy of mindfulness

Social Skills Training: After identifying specific needs in social play and interactions, emotional regulation, and communicaiton skills, students will practice prosocial behaviors and coping skills

Self-regulation: Students will learn and practice techniques to control their own behavior in order to make good choices. Techniques will include- practicing self control, Cognitive Behavorial practices, mindfulness, and more.

Growth Mindset: Students will learn strategies to combat negative thoughts. 

Please contact your School Counselor if you would like to refer your child for a support group, wright.lindsay@westada.org