How Counseling Works
When most people hear the word "counselor," I believe they tend to feel nervous and uncertain. On this page, I hope to ease any feelings that you might have about school counselors as I describe how I provide counseling to students in Fall Creek.
First, I want to make it clear that I am not a therapist. I do not provide professional counseling services. When appropriate, I help to make referrals to outside community agencies.
What is School Counseling?
School counseling is the process of helping students by assisting them in making decisions and changing behavior. School counseling is designed to be a preventative activity or intervention which meets the immediate needs and concerns of students. It addresses academic, personal/social, and/or career concerns and can take one of two forms:
I will provide information about how small group counseling works on this page.
Return to Top of Page ?
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling is provided for students expressing difficulties dealing with relationships, personal concerns, or normal developmental tasks. It assists students in identifying problems, causes, and possible consequences so that appropriate action is taken.
Areas that may be addressed in individual counseling include, but are not limited to:
-
Conflict Resolution
-
Anger Management
-
Crisis Intervention
Typically, individual counseling sessions involve one student meeting one-on-one with me. The number of times that we meet varies on the nature of the issue. Sometimes, one meeting is all that is needed. Other times, 2-8 meetings are needed. I try to limit the number of times that I meet with students about a particular issue to 8 meetings, again because my role is not one of a therapist.
Return to Top of Page ?
Small Group Counseling
Group counseling assists students in addressing common needs and concerns. Students in group counseling identify problems, causes, alternatives, and possible outcomes so that appropriate action can be taken.
Areas of group concern are similar to individual counseling topics and may include, but are not limited to:
-
Social Skills
-
Relationship Issues
-
Academic Achievement
-
Attendance Concerns
-
Behavior Management
-
Transitions
Typically, small groups include 3-5 students who meet approximately one time per week with me for 20-30 minutes per meeting. Small groups tend to be "data-driven" based on the needs of particular students in the district as identified through data analysis.
Return to Top of Page ?
Referrals for Counseling
Students, teachers, and parents can make referrals to me to start the counseling process. Students can make self-referrals by completing an appointment postcard and placing it in the mailbox outside of my office. They can also make a self-referral by telling me or another teacher that they would like to see me.
Teachers can make a referral for their students to see me by completing a referral form regarding a particular concern that they have about a student. I will work with the teacher to make sure that counseling is the proper option for the particular situation of concern.
Parents can make a referral for their children to see me by contacting me via telephone, 715-877-3331 ext. 254, or via email, jonstrand@fallcreek.k12.wi.us. Parents can also complete anonline referral form found on the right side of this page under "Make a Referral." I will ask you some questions as part of this process so I can help provide the best available services to your children.
Return to Top of Page ?
Parent Contact
Generally, when students make a self-referral for individual counseling, I allow them a series of "free meetings." These meetings help me to understand the nature of their referral. If at any point during the meetings I believe that I am dealing with a concern that warrants parent contact, I will make a parent contact to inform you about the individual counseling meetings. If I believe that the meetings do not warrant a parent contact, I will not make a parent contact. There is quite a bit of discretion that goes along with this. However, I always try to look out for the best interests of both the student and his or her family while respecting the wishes of each.
Whenever a referral for either individual or small group counseling is made by a teacher, I always attempt to make a parental contact before meeting with the student unless the teacher has already made this contact.
In the case of suspected child abuse or neglect, I will never make a parent contact if I believe the parent is the alleged abuser.
Return to Top of Page ?
Confidentiality
As a counselor, I believe it is important to provide every student with a safe and confidential environment. I believe this helps to build trust between myself and the students. This means that I will not discuss anything said by any student during counseling meetings unless I find out that the student has been hurt by someone or if the student desires to hurt someone. I can speak in general terms about the general nature of the counseling meetings. However, I will not discuss any specific conversation or activity that took place.
I do encourage students to talk with their parents about our discussions in the counseling environment.
Return to Top of Page ?
|