Individual Counseling
Some students may benefit from one-on-one support through short-term individual counseling. Individual sessions with students are scheduled as requested by students, parents, and teachers.
Small Group Counseling
Small groups are formed based on student needs, and typically last from 6-12 weeks, depending on the group design and age of the students. Groups may center around making positive choices, friendship skills, resiliency, coping with grief and loss, or building a positive self-concept. Parent permission is required for group participation.
Classroom Guidance
Classroom Guidance Lessons occur when your school counselor visits the entire class at once to teach a lesson based on developmental needs. Your counselor visits all classes at Harmony to deliver lessons in academic, personal-social, and career domains.
Child Lures – Your local school counselor presents the GCPS-adopted abuse prevention curriculum to all K-5 students as part of the annual guidance curriculum. Each year, new rules are added in a developmentally appropriate approach. The parent letter has information about the program. I recommend talking with your children about family safety, trusting their instincts about safety, and the different adults in all locations who are there to help them, no matter what.
Lifelines is a Suicide Prevention curriculum presented to all 5th grade students. It is adopted through the GCPS Health department. Your counselor works with the P.E. teacher and 5th grade teachers to deliver the lessons. The theme through all lessons is to seek help for yourself or others when needed. Parent letters will communicate important discussion points before the lessons are delivered.
Confidentiality Statement
Student confidentiality is important to me! As the school counselor, I recognize that my relationships with students are built on trust. If I feel it is appropriate for parents or teachers to be notified of an issue, I will ask for the student's permission to do so. I try my best to balance communicating with parents with respecting the student’s right to privacy. However, there are important exceptions:
- Potential Harm to Self or Others
- Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
- Court or Other Legal Proceedings
- Confidentiality in group sessions cannot be guaranteed because other students are present
