Sparta Area School District - Lawrence-Lawson

Welcome!

Mrs. Severson is available at Lawrence-Lawson on Days 2, 3, & 4
The Counseling Office is located within the Main office
Please contact me at 608-269-3181 or cseverson@spartan.org

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"By ALL for ALL"

The School Counseling Program includes everyone!

The goal of the school counseling program is to ensure academic success for all students and gives students a purpose for learning.

The Comprehensive School Counseling Program meets content standards in three domains:

� Academic

� Personal/Social

� Career

The Comprehensive School Counseling Program includes four areas of delivery:

School Counseling Curriculum System Support

Classroom Guidance activities Advisory Councils

Group activities Collaboration

Consultation

Teaming

Responsive Services Individual Student Planning

Consultation Advisement

Crisis Counseling Appraisal

Individual Counseling Individual Conferences

Referrals

Small Group Counseling

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Developmental Classroom Guidance

Classroom Guidance Themes

September	Introduction/Character Education
October	AODA (Alcohol and Drug Awareness/Safety
November	Feelings
December	Anger Management
January	Friendships
February	Bullying
March	Bullying/Conflict Resolution
April	Protective Behaviors
May	Careers

Mrs. Severson spends 30 minutes in every classroom every other week. She follows these monthly guidance themes to plan lessons and projects. Classroom materials include videos, books, written work, group projects, games, and discussions.

Small Groups
Small groups have approximately 4-6 students who meet in the guidance office to discuss a variety of topics. Small groups usually meet once a week for 6-8 weeks. Mrs. Severson offers many small groups for all grade levels. These groups focus on topics such as friendship, social skills, family changes, behavior choices, and conflict resolution. Students may be referred for small group counseling by parent request, teacher referral or as a result of an educational plan.

Individual Counseling
Mrs. Severson is available to provide counseling to any students who would like the opportunity to talk with her or who have needs beyond the scope of small group counseling. This takes place in the guidance office and can be initiated by parents, teachers, or students.

Referring a Child for Counseling

What are typical reasons for seeing the elementary counselor?

The following are typical concerns that may be referred to the elementary counselor:

School

Academic success/failure Playground concerns (e.g. teasing, bullying, harassment)

Peer relationships Motivation

Authority Relationships Homework

Behavior adjustments Attendance

Transition Exceptional needs

Separation from home Attention/focus concerns

School phobia 504 accommodations

Family

Divorce Single parent family

Death Blended families

New family member Economic issues

Siblings Child abuse or neglect

Parental authority Parenting skills

Parental expectations Home/school relationship

Domestic violence Homelessness

Adoption issues Foster care

Serious illness Chemical dependency

Community

Getting along in the neighborhood Alcohol and other drugs

Vandalism Resources

Referral agencies Personal safety/protective behavior

Self

Low self concept Habits

Values Emotional state

Physical appearance Responsibility

Sex role identification Self expectations

Attitude Suicide prevention

Organization skills Assertiveness

Referral Process

Who refers a child for counseling?

Children may refer themselves or be referred to the school counselor by the following sources:

Teacher Principal

Parent Other school personnel

Outside agencies Peers

Siblings STAT, IEP, or building consult team

The referral process can be either formal or informal. There are various referral forms that can be used at the discretion of the counselor.

When should a referral for counseling be considered?

The following are some behavioral characteristics to watch for before referring a child for school-based counseling:

1) Change in previous behavior pattern.

2) Difficulty establishing and maintaining friendships.

3) Difficulty in managing stressful situations, e.g. getting upset easily, crying, procrastination, absenteeism.

4) Noticeable moodiness, unusual thoughts or actions.

5) Extreme stubbornness, indifference, or lack of flexibility.

6) Academic difficulties not consistent with ability.

Guidance Websites

Lawrence-Lawson Elementary School