Small Group Counseling
The purpose of small group counseling is to complement and enhance students' learning by improving their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. Small group counseling provides a safe setting where children, along with their peers, can increase their self-awareness and improve their cooperation and communication skills. The children can learn from each other.
Ultimately the goal of small group counseling is to prevent future problems by teaching children new skills. Every child can benefit from participation in a small group. Students can be invited to join a group by parent request, teacher or counselor suggestion, or by the students themselves.
​
Groups typically consist of 4 - 8 students struggling with similar situations. They are scheduled for a specified number of sessions, focus on a single topic, follow a pre-established agenda, and membership is closed. Click HERE, if you are a Ewing Public School staff, & wish to make a referral for a group implementation.
​
TYPES OF GROUPS
Task Groups: Application of group strategies that promote the accomplishment of group tasks and goals, e.g., curriculum development, developing individual educational or social learning plans.
Psycho-educational Groups: Application of group strategies that promote typical growth and/or prevent/remediate transitory difficulties in personal/social, academic, career development
​
Counseling Groups: Application of group strategies to address problems of living that arise in the lives of students
Psychotherapy Groups: Application of group strategies to address consistent patterns of dysfunctional behaviors and/or distortions.
​
​
Individual Counseling
Individual school counseling does not take the place of professional counseling. The goal of individual school counseling is to provide the student with support and guidance to help them become and remain academically successful.
Growing up isn't always easy. Please come speak with me if you're experiencing any of the following:
​
-
Selecting Classes
-
Relationship Difficulties
-
Life Transitions
-
Difficulties with Self-Esteem/Liking Self
-
Eating Issues
-
Making Friends/Getting Along With Others
-
Parent's Divorce
-
Professional/Career
-
College/Graduate School Options
-
Being a "New Kid"/Moving Away
-
Stress Management
-
Studying Skills
-
Sexual/Physical Abuse
-
Organization
-
Drugs & Alcohol
-
Home Difficulties
-
Bullying
-
Other Issues
Individual school counseling should be conducted during the students' lunch time or non-core course periods if possible.
​
To schedule an individual session for a student please complete the appropriate form.
TEACHERS
​
PARENTS
​
STUDENTS
​
​
FORMING A GROUP
A needs assessment will be dispursed to assess topics/areas of need for students across the school. When needs have been identified, I will create an Action Plan which includes detailed information concerning the group: description, purpose, rationale, objectives, logistics, risks and safety issues, implementation procedures, and evaluation.
​
Following the Action Plan creation, teachers and other school staff will be surveyed to identify students who would benefit from participating in the groups. Once students are identified they will be interviewed/ screened. This assesses the student’s readiness and level of interest in group participation and helps determine group membership. Pre-group screening interviews are important. Screenings may be conducted individually or as a group discussion.
​
The screening interview leads to the selection of participants. This step aids in predicting the effectiveness of a small group counseling experiences for all members. There may be pressure to select a particular student for a group, however, the decision to involve students in any group should be based on the student’s needs and readiness.
​
• Informing students about the group
o Describe the group.
o Tell students what they may gain from being in the group.
o Tell students about group expectations, including participation and confidentiality.
o Inform students of alternatives if they are not selected for the group
• Gauging students’ level of interest and commitment
o Ask students if they are willing to follow expectations and ground rules.
o Ask students to rate their level of interest.
• Identifying participants
o Is the student a willing participant?
o Hypothesize whether the student will be satisfied with
o Group focus as it relates to personal needs and goals
o Other members of the group
o The process of working in a group