Lower School Counseling
Counseling
The Lower School Counselor addresses the developmental, emotional and psychological needs of all students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. The School Counselor is a professional educator trained in mental health, with a background in education, counseling to age-specific developmental stages of student growth, and the emotional needs of students. The School Counselor works with all students as a specialist in human behavior and relationships to ensure the well being of the entire student body.
The Lower School Counselor provides individual, group and limited family counseling to all students and their families. This may include consultation with parents on specific issues regarding their student. The Counselor is an integral member of each grade level team and participates in weekly meetings or collaborative staffing with teachers to discuss a student’s individual progress, concerns and/or needs.
Confidentiality:
The School Counselor is ethically bound to maintain a confidential relationship with students/family with which that Counselor has established a counseling relationship. The exceptions to this would be in situations where the Counselor felt the student was in danger of hurting themselves, disclosed they intend to hurt themselves or someone else or is a victim of abuse. Other communication would be with the student and/or parent’s permission. Communication with outside professional or agencies requires an “Authorization of Release of Information” from all parties. All assessments, reports and written communication is maintained in the Counselor’s office in a locked file and only shared with those identified by the student and family.
