Thank you for visiting the Elementary Counseling Corner!
Navigating to the top of this page, you will find a wealth of information such as community referrals, classroom counseling calendars and parent resources. Feel free to call or email us any time you have a concern about your child’s well-being. We look forward to building a partnership with you and your child.
Jessica Woody Elementary Counselor 417-546-6381
Ashley White K-12 Counselor 417-546-6381
What does an Elementary School Counselor do?
Elementary School Counselors provide young learners with effective and developmentally appropriate tools for communicating, making decisions and developing friendships and coping skills. Counselors provide services through Guidance Lessons, Responsive Services, System Support, and Individual Planning at the elementary level.
The American School Counselors Association (ASCA) explains it this way, “Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs provide education, prevention and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. Early identification and intervention of children’s academic and personal/social needs is essential in removing barriers to learning and in promoting academic achievement.”
At Forsyth Elementary we strive to incorporate the goals of the ASCA (American School Counselors Association) National Model and deliver comprehensive, development, and systematic program services for our children. As an elementary school counselor, my time is spent collaborating with teachers and staff, teaching classroom lessons, facilitating short-term small group counseling and providing immediate short-term counseling when needed. In addition, I consult with parents, on a regular basis, to incorporate curriculum development and provide referrals for community resources..
Responsive Services
Individual and small-group counseling
Individual/family/school crisis intervention
Conflict resolution
Consultation/collaboration
Referrals
System Support
Professional development
Consultation, collaboration and teaming
Program management and operation
How does the counselor spend her time?
School Guidance Curriculum
Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills
Goal setting and decision-making
Career awareness, exploration and planning
Education on understanding self and others
Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills
Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution
Multicultural/diversity awareness
Individual student planning
Academic planning
Goal setting/decision- making
Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
Transition plans
Trauma-Informed Parent Resources
Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative Publication Pursuant to Missouri Senate Bill 638, Section 161.1050, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has established the “Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative.” For the purposes of this initiative, the following terms are defined as follows:
“Trauma-informed approach” -an approach that involves understanding and responding to the symptoms of chronic interpersonal trauma and traumatic stress across the lifespan
“Trauma-informed school” -a school that: a. realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery b. recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students, teachers and staff c. responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into its policies, procedures and practices; and d. seeks to actively resist re-traumatization
DESE recommends The Missouri Model as the developmental framework for the Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative. The implementation of a trauma-informed approach is an ongoing organizational change process. A “trauma-informed approach” is not a program model that can be implemented and then simply monitored by a fidelity checklist. Rather, it is a profound paradigm shift in knowledge, perspective, attitudes and skills that continues to deepen and unfold over time. Some leaders in the field are beginning to talk about a “continuum” of implementation, where organizations move through stages. The continuum begins with becoming trauma aware and moves to trauma sensitive to responsive to being fully trauma informed.
An Introduction to Trauma (Professional Training): “Research has revealed that the prevalence of trauma is high particularly in specific target populations. This webinar will introduce viewers to the definition and prevalence of trauma, as well as examining the social, biological and health impact.” http://www.mimhtraining.com/introduction-to-trauma/ University of Missouri St. Louis / Missouri Institute of Mental Health Trauma-Informed Website Link https://dese.mo.gov/traumainformed