School Counseling

School Counseling

Westchester’s caring school counseling staff work with students, parents, teachers and staff to support students in achieving academic and social success. They coordinate the school’s guidance curriculum and meet with students for individual, small group and classroom counseling sessions.

School Counseling services are delivered in the following ways:

• School Guidance Curriculum - designing, structuring, and delivering classroom/advisory lessons designed to achieve specific competencies in grades pre-K-12 (personal/social, academic, career) and driven by the needs of the school population
• Individual Student Planning - assisting students with goal formation/planning (behavioral, academic, etc.)
• Responsive Services - meeting immediate student needs (counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, referral, peer mediation, information-providing)
• System Support - schoolwide program planning and implementation, consulting with other professionals, coordination of various supports for students and families

Counselors provide the following types of support:

• Individual Counseling - A student can discuss issues in a safe, positive, and  confidential setting (for a limited time; ongoing therapy is not available in the school setting). Topics are based on the needs of the student and may include feelings, changing families, peer pressure, friends, stress, academics, social skills, academics, bullying, getting along with others, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Small Group Counseling - Students sharing similar issues and concerns work together in a small group environment consisting of about 3-6 peers. The group sessions usually last about 30 minutes and are held for approximately 6-8 weeks. Topics are based on the needs of the students and may include divorce or changing families, grief and loss, friendship and social skills, study skills, conflict resolution, anger management, self-esteem, and stress-management.
• Classroom Guidance/Classroom Counseling - School Counselor develops and implements pre-K-12 guidance curriculum delivered through different opportunities. These lessons address personal, social, academic, and career-related needs at the student's developmental level. Topics may include self-esteem, conflict resolution, study skills, anger management, career awareness, tattling/reporting, friendship/social skills, responsibility, respect, teasing/bullying, feelings, cooperation, goal setting/decision-making, and peer pressure.

Students are referred by faculty or parents to meet with a school counselor. View counselor contact information at the bottom of this page.