School Counselors Can Help You Cope
School Counselors know how to listen and can help kids with life's challenges. Counselors have special training in how to help kids solve problems, make decisions, and stand up for themselves.
That doesn't mean your counselor will wave a magic wand and the problem will go away. But it does mean he or she will help you cope with it. Coping is an important word to know. Sometimes, kids and grown-ups have difficult problems. Coping means that someone is trying to handle these problems and make things better.
Your school counselor is available for you and wants to make your school experience the best it can be. The counselor's job is to take your problem seriously and help you find a solution. The counselor also wants to help you learn as much as you can in class, be a contributing member of the school community, and be a positive influence on your environment.
What Do I Do If I Need the Counselor?
Your school counselor might visit your class or talk at a school assembly to let you know that he or she is available. Some schools use their website to explain what the counselor does and how to get a counseling appointment. It's a good idea to know about the school counselor, even if you don't need any help right now.
If you're unsure how to contact the counselor, ask your teacher, your parent, or one of the people who work in the school office. At my schools, I have self-referral slips on my door where you can fill out your name, date, and the size of your problem (small rock, medium rock, large rock.)
Generally, counselors meet students in:
-A Private meeting
-group meetings with kids who are dealing with the same problem
-classrooms, where the counselor teaches a class on a subject that affects everyone
What Will the Appointment Be Like?
The most common setting to meet with a counselor is in a private meeting. The meeting could be just you alone, or other students. Your teacher, or your parent could be there. Counselors typically have offices where you can sit down and talk.
Don't worry that you need to know exactly what's bothering you when you talk with the school counselor. You may just be feeling bad or not doing as well in school as you know you can — and that's OK. The counselor will try to help you figure out what's going on. When you do, he or she will have ideas for how to make things better. Sometimes that means finding other people (tutors, learning specialists, or therapists) who can provide the help you need.
What Else Do Counselors Do?
In addition to helping kids with problems, school counselors help kids learn about:
-Academic and study skills
-Personal & social development
-Careers
Will the Counselor Keep a Secret?
Yes! A school counselor will keep your secrets and it is important to know that if you meet with a school counselor, your conversation will be confidential. This means that the counselor isn't going to go sharing your personal business around the school. However, there are some cases when a counselor can't keep it a secret, or keep it confidential — if the counselor thinks that you or someone else is at risk of being harmed. But even then, the counselor would share that information only with people who need to know.
Won't Other Kids Think I'm in Trouble?
Your appointment with the counselor could happen during the day when classmates might notice you're gone. What you choose to say about it is your decision. You can just say you had an appointment and leave it at that. You also can say that visiting the counselor doesn't mean you're in trouble.
If you're worried about what to say, tell your counselor. He or she can help you practice what you would say if someone asked about it. If you'd prefer not to miss class time, ask the counselor if you can talk before school, at recess, during lunch, study hall, or after school.
Sometimes a counselor might call someone in because they did something like calling a person a name or break something. But it's different when you ask to see the counselor because you want help with a problem. You're not in trouble just because you need some help.
Information from Kidshealth.Org
Reviewed by Steven Dowshen, MD, November 2008
Great Resources for Kids K-6!
Go here to play some fun games, color, and read with the Berenstain Bears!
http://pbskids.org/berenstainbears/games/index.html
Go here to play some games and complete some activities with Arthur, the Amazing Aardvark!
http://pbskids.org/arthur/index.html
Check out this cool site if you need some help or advice on your family, friends, school, body, emotions, or even with handling money! It has really cool interactive games and videos!
http://www.pbskids.org/itsmylife/
BAM: Body & Mind is a great site to help you make healthy lifestyle choices and learn about peer pressure, stress, and physical fitness!
http://www.bam.gov
Go to First Gov for Kids and check out the areas of the page on Career and Safety. This is a great site created by the Federal Citizens Information Center!
http://www.kids.gov
This site offers stories, activities and resources to help create a better understanding of how people can overcome challenges and reach their dreams by using their strengths and abilities, and a "Can-Do" attitude!
http://www.ucando.org
This site from the FBI allows you to take an online field trip to learn more about the Federal Beauru of Investigation (FBI) and to find fun games and important safety tips about the internet, talking to strangers, and guns.
http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htm
NLS Kids Zone is a great site to find lots of fun and interesting books and information on authors, and book awards! Check out this site and talk to your parents or guardians about visiting the local library!
http://www.loc.gov/nls/children/index.html
This site provides some activities about growing up with an illness. Find out what coping skills are and make yours even better by visiting this website!
http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jflietas/bandaides/
Check out this fun site with lots of exciting games and puzzles!
http://www.funbrain.com
Ask your parent' or guardians' permission to download the following PDF File, which is a Career Coloring Book from Wichita State University SIFE and Teachnet.com! Color the pictures of all the different career choices and talk with your parents or guardians about what types of jobs and career you would like to have someday!
career_coloring_book.pdf
Download File
School Counselors know how to listen and can help kids with life's challenges. Counselors have special training in how to help kids solve problems, make decisions, and stand up for themselves.
That doesn't mean your counselor will wave a magic wand and the problem will go away. But it does mean he or she will help you cope with it. Coping is an important word to know. Sometimes, kids and grown-ups have difficult problems. Coping means that someone is trying to handle these problems and make things better.
Your school counselor is available for you and wants to make your school experience the best it can be. The counselor's job is to take your problem seriously and help you find a solution. The counselor also wants to help you learn as much as you can in class, be a contributing member of the school community, and be a positive influence on your environment.
What Do I Do If I Need the Counselor?
Your school counselor might visit your class or talk at a school assembly to let you know that he or she is available. Some schools use their website to explain what the counselor does and how to get a counseling appointment. It's a good idea to know about the school counselor, even if you don't need any help right now.
If you're unsure how to contact the counselor, ask your teacher, your parent, or one of the people who work in the school office. At my schools, I have self-referral slips on my door where you can fill out your name, date, and the size of your problem (small rock, medium rock, large rock.)
Generally, counselors meet students in:
-A Private meeting
-group meetings with kids who are dealing with the same problem
-classrooms, where the counselor teaches a class on a subject that affects everyone
What Will the Appointment Be Like?
The most common setting to meet with a counselor is in a private meeting. The meeting could be just you alone, or other students. Your teacher, or your parent could be there. Counselors typically have offices where you can sit down and talk.
Don't worry that you need to know exactly what's bothering you when you talk with the school counselor. You may just be feeling bad or not doing as well in school as you know you can — and that's OK. The counselor will try to help you figure out what's going on. When you do, he or she will have ideas for how to make things better. Sometimes that means finding other people (tutors, learning specialists, or therapists) who can provide the help you need.
What Else Do Counselors Do?
In addition to helping kids with problems, school counselors help kids learn about:
-Academic and study skills
-Personal & social development
-Careers
Will the Counselor Keep a Secret?
Yes! A school counselor will keep your secrets and it is important to know that if you meet with a school counselor, your conversation will be confidential. This means that the counselor isn't going to go sharing your personal business around the school. However, there are some cases when a counselor can't keep it a secret, or keep it confidential — if the counselor thinks that you or someone else is at risk of being harmed. But even then, the counselor would share that information only with people who need to know.
Won't Other Kids Think I'm in Trouble?
Your appointment with the counselor could happen during the day when classmates might notice you're gone. What you choose to say about it is your decision. You can just say you had an appointment and leave it at that. You also can say that visiting the counselor doesn't mean you're in trouble.
If you're worried about what to say, tell your counselor. He or she can help you practice what you would say if someone asked about it. If you'd prefer not to miss class time, ask the counselor if you can talk before school, at recess, during lunch, study hall, or after school.
Sometimes a counselor might call someone in because they did something like calling a person a name or break something. But it's different when you ask to see the counselor because you want help with a problem. You're not in trouble just because you need some help.
Information from Kidshealth.Org
Reviewed by Steven Dowshen, MD, November 2008
Great Resources for Kids K-6!
Go here to play some fun games, color, and read with the Berenstain Bears!
http://pbskids.org/berenstainbears/games/index.html
Go here to play some games and complete some activities with Arthur, the Amazing Aardvark!
http://pbskids.org/arthur/index.html
Check out this cool site if you need some help or advice on your family, friends, school, body, emotions, or even with handling money! It has really cool interactive games and videos!
http://www.pbskids.org/itsmylife/
BAM: Body & Mind is a great site to help you make healthy lifestyle choices and learn about peer pressure, stress, and physical fitness!
http://www.bam.gov
Go to First Gov for Kids and check out the areas of the page on Career and Safety. This is a great site created by the Federal Citizens Information Center!
http://www.kids.gov
This site offers stories, activities and resources to help create a better understanding of how people can overcome challenges and reach their dreams by using their strengths and abilities, and a "Can-Do" attitude!
http://www.ucando.org
This site from the FBI allows you to take an online field trip to learn more about the Federal Beauru of Investigation (FBI) and to find fun games and important safety tips about the internet, talking to strangers, and guns.
http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htm
NLS Kids Zone is a great site to find lots of fun and interesting books and information on authors, and book awards! Check out this site and talk to your parents or guardians about visiting the local library!
http://www.loc.gov/nls/children/index.html
This site provides some activities about growing up with an illness. Find out what coping skills are and make yours even better by visiting this website!
http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jflietas/bandaides/
Check out this fun site with lots of exciting games and puzzles!
http://www.funbrain.com
Ask your parent' or guardians' permission to download the following PDF File, which is a Career Coloring Book from Wichita State University SIFE and Teachnet.com! Color the pictures of all the different career choices and talk with your parents or guardians about what types of jobs and career you would like to have someday!
career_coloring_book.pdf
Download File