Earnesteen Milstead Middle School

• Guidance Curriculum- to assist students in the development of basic life skills.
• Responsive Services- to intervene on behalf of those students whose immediate personal concerns/ problems put their personal-social, career, and/ or educational development at risk.
•  Individual Planning- to guide students as they plan, monitor, and manage their educational, career, and personal-social development.
• System Support- to assist with programs that support students, and to coordinate with parents, teachers, administrators, and school staff to benefit all students.

Some students attend school ill-equipped emotionally, physically, and/ or socially to learn. School Counselors bridge the gap and provide support for all students to learn effectively.

Services include individual and/ or group counseling, but are not limited to:

· Decision making, goal setting, planning, problem-solving skills

· Interpersonal effectiveness, communication skills

· Character development

· Self-confidence development

· Motivation to achieve

· Responsible behavior

· Career counseling

· Crisis Counseling

· Student/ Parent Seminars

· Group counseling

1. Negative feelings about self--always putting self down.

2. Isolated--want to be alone or is often left alone and uninvolved.

3. Perfectionist--unrealistic goals.

4. Suspected emotional and/ or physical abuse.

5. Family transition/ divorce--recent divorce or separation, or unresolved "long term" longing for reconciliation.

6. Withdrawn--uncomfortable interacting with others.

7. Death of a loved one.

8. Concern that a student may harm themselves or others.

9. Adjusting to change in the family structure--family member in the hospital; parents absent more; additional people living in the home; new step-parent or new suitor for a parent.

10. Improved behavior--counselor will give positive reinforcement.

11. Academic problems or concerns-- aid in study skills and understanding talents and limitations.

12. TLC (tender, loving care) momentary need for TLC for any reason: a problem of the moment, peer rejection, upset about moving, feelings of inadequacy, or feelings of disappointment.

Student referrals may be made to the counselor by the teacher, the parent, or by the students themselves. Faculty members may submit written referrals on the appropriate Counseling Center Student Referral Form. Forms are kept by the teacher mailboxes. Completed forms may be turned in to the appropriate grade level Counselor's mailbox or given to the Counselor Clerk.

· Students or parents with a classroom concern may contact the appropriate Team Leader to request a teacher conference. Academic or curriculum concerns are to be directed to the Team Leader. Discipline concerns are to be directed to the grade level principal. Personal issues are to be directed to the grade level counselor.

· Each student and parent has the right to complete confidentiality of information exchanged in individual and/ or group counseling sessions, unless there is indication of harm to themselves or others.

· Prior to the release of information requested by an outside source, the student and parent must sign a release form or complete a letter of recommendation request or transcript request form.