School Counseling Services

A school counselor's primary role is to advocate and support academic success for all students.  In order to do so, the counselor works collaboratively with students, staff, and parents alike to create a caring school environment and provide developmentally appropriate counseling services.  These services support the personal, social/emotional, academic, and career development of students.  The goal of school counseling is to address minor issues which impact learning while at school.  Should you have any concerns regarding your child's success, please feel free to contact me.

​Classroom Guidance Lesson

Guidance lessons are given to classrooms throughout the year.  These lessons provide strategies and concepts that help students to be successful in the classroom and with friends.  With the ever-changing demands and influences in the lives of our children, learning can be impacted considerably; therefore, interventions are an integral part of the learning process.  School Counseling at Shafer Elementary is based on giving students the tools to be successful in school.  My goal is for students to carry on these tools into their junior highs, high schools, and careers. 

Individual School Counseling

In a school setting, a school counselor does brief counseling which addresses problems within a few sessions. The school setting is different than a therapeutic/clinical setting where diagnosis and treatment plans are created and treatment is administered for a longer period of time. The goal of school counseling is to address issues that impact learning while at school.   If issues continue to impact the student's learning at school, after intervention by the school counselor, a referral to an outside resource will be suggested to the parent/guardian.  If you would like a copy of the district-provided referral list of outside agencies, therapists, and counselors, please contact me; the list is available in English and Spanish. School Counselors also work with outside agencies to ensure student success while at school. ​

Group Counseling

Sometimes a child's needs are best served through the use of group counseling. In group counseling, the students come together to work on a common need or concern. The counselor facilitates groups and strives to provide the students with strategies that will aid in their success.