Counseling Services
Classroom Lessons Topics
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has published The ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors, which describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students need to achieve academic success, college and career readiness, and social/emotional development. These are the standards used at Bethesda to help identify Classroom Lesson Topics. To learn more, see the mindsetsbehaviors.pdf document below.
Classroom Lessons
We visit your child's classroom regularly to teach lessons to all students in grades K-5. These lessons focus on three domains: Academic, Social/Emotional, and Career. Please see "Classroom Lesson Topics" at the bottom of the page to see the topics that will be covered in your child's classroom this year.
Individual Counseling
We see students on an individual basis if they need assistance in dealing with a concern related to home or school. Students may request to see the counselor, or they may be referred by teachers or parents. Individual Counseling is brief and time-limited. If your child requires more extensive individual counseling, we would be happy to refer you to providers outside of the school system.
Small Group Counseling
Students are sometimes referred by their teacher or the Student Support Team (SST) to participate in small group counseling. The small group provides each student with the support of his/her peers and the counselor to help develop his/her potential. These groups offer students opportunities to increase self-awareness, improve academic success, and learn problem-solving skills. Some small group session topics include, but are not limited to: resiliency, anger management, study skills, choice making/behavior, grief, friendship, social skills, self-esteem, and family changes.
Parent and Teacher Consultation
We serve as consultants to parents, teachers, administrators, and community agencies in a variety of ways. We often speak with parents about concerns regarding their child or family circumstances in order to offer support. Additionally, we collaborate regularly with students' teachers and administrators in order to help provide students with the best possible education, often through the SST process. There are also times when counselors communicate with other community agencies in order to best serve the needs of our students and school.
Special Programs
We organize several programs throughout the school year, including our annual Canned Food Drive, Career Day/Careers on Wheels, Character Education, College Week, Mentoring Program, Patriot Student of the Week, Peer Helpers, Red Ribbon Week, Safety Patrol, Student Council, and the Weekend Food Bag Program. For questions about any of these programs, please contact your child's counselor.
mindsets-behaviors.pdf