Counseling

=Counseling Services= The Crystal City Elementary School's Comprehensive Guidance Program strives to help all students develop skills in the areas of personal/social, academic, and career development. For those who need additional support, we offer individual and/or small group work. These counseling opportunities are offered throughout the school year. These opportunities can help students remove the barriers to their school success, support and enhance students’ development of social skills and support and promote students’ educational achievement.

Students may self-refer or may be referred for services by their parents or teachers. Please contact Ms. Carey for additional information on these services or outside referral information. She can be reached by dialing 636-937-4017 ext 2018 or by emailing careyk@crystal.k12.mo.us

For any long-term counseling services, such as, small group participation, parental consent is required.
 * Please note that small group counseling may not be the best way to meet the needs of every student. The screening process will help determine the appropriateness of small group counseling for each student.


 * __Possible small group topics:__**
 * Family Changes**: Intended for students whose barriers to school success include challenges related to such life events as divorce, death, loss, moving, break-ups, injury, incarceration, military deployment. Groups will focus on helping students identify thoughts and feelings, develop coping strategies and identify support systems that exist in their environment.


 * Healthy Choices:** Intended for students whose barriers to school success include challenges related to personal choices such as eating patterns, exercise, sleep patterns, stress management, preventing/managing unhealthy behaviors (e.g. self-mutilation, substance abuse). Groups will focus on identifying triggers, building self-esteem and resilience, and making healthier, alternative choices.


 * Interpersonal Issues:** Intended for students whose barriers to school success include relationship challenges related to issues such as bullying, harassment, friendship, conflict, respect for individual and group differences, dealing with authority, and leadership. Groups focus on building skills to identify thoughts and feelings, triggers, healthy choices, exercise tolerance, develop self-awareness and control.


 * Intrapersonal Issues**: Intended for students whose barriers to school success include inner challenges related to issues such as anger management, stress, test anxiety, grief, depression, school phobia, esteem, self-acceptance and identity development (gender, culture, sexuality, values). Groups focus on developing resilience/coping skills, self-advocacy skills, stress-reduction techniques and improving self-awareness.


 * Academic Success:** Intended for students whose barriers to school success include challenges related to academic achievement such as study skills/habits, attendance, decision-making, problem-solving, goal-setting, and transitions/adjustment to new situations. Groups will focus on problem-solving techniques; steps involved in goal-setting and decision-making; finding a connection with school; improving study skills, organizational skills and time management; decreasing test anxiety; and adapting to change.


 * Career Exploration:** Intended for students whose barriers to school success include challenges relating to knowledge and understanding of the world of work including: aspirations/goal setting, personal planning, self-assessment, decision-making, communication styles. Groups will help students develop awareness of resources and using those resources now and in the future.