The school counselor provides preventive and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. The counselor provides appropriate tools for communicating, making decisions, and developing friendships and coping skills. Counselors provide services by developing and delivering classroom lessons that teach skills for achieving success, facilitating small group counseling and providing immediate short-term counseling when needed, and providing support during personal crisis. In addition, counselors work collaboratively with parents to help their student succeed in academic, career, personal and social development and provide referrals for community resources.

Students can see their school counselor via self-referral, parental request, request of the counselor, administrative referral, and/or teacher or staff referral. Referrals can be made anytime via email our counselor, Keri Amorosa, at [email protected] or phone 832-678-6534. We can discuss concerns over the phone or set up a time to meet in person.

The school counselor will see see students as needed for daily concerns. It may be determined that multiple sessions are required to address the student’s concern. However, the school counselor does not provide long term psychological therapy and will refer the student to outside services if it is determined that extended counseling is needed. The counselor will provide information regarding referral services.

The school counselor can collaborate with the outside service providers if needed. There is a form, Authorization to Release Information, which will allow communication between providers. This form can be picked up at the front office.

Confidentiality is an important aspect of counseling; this is how the counselor builds trust with the student. What the child says during counseling is to remain between the counselor and the child unless:

1. The child is in imminent danger.
2. The child is threatening to harm him/herself or someone else.
3. The child reports an incident of abuse and/or neglect.
4. The child gives permission to disclose.

When a breach in confidentiality is necessary, the counselor would make a report to the appropriate agencies, support staff and/or parents depending on the situation.

Note: School counselors and other school staff members are mandated reporters. Mandated reporters are required by law to report to CPS any time a student is suspected of being in danger.

Students may be referred to the school counselor if there are concerns that are inhibiting their learning at school. Some concerns, but not limited to are: Behavioral, social/ emotional, and academic concerns.

Parents are notified at the discretion of the counselor. If the counselor will be seeing a student on an on-going basis the counselor will notify the parent and seek parental consent for school counseling.

Small group topics are determined based on the need of the small group. Examples of small group topics might be:

• Making Good Choices Group: Listening, following directions, focusing attention, making a plan for learning; self- talk; Decision making; problem solving; Appropriate vs. Inappropriate behavior; friendships; confidence
• Friendship Group: Strengths as a friend; what to look for in a friend; conflict resolution with friends; sharing and taking turns; problem solving; listening to others; how to make a new friend
• Citizenship Group:  Following Directions, Listening Skills, Disagreeing Appropriately, and Accepting "No" for an Answer
• Study Skills Group: Organizational Skills, Following Directions, Prioritizing Time, and Doing and Returning Homework.

The Counselor’s Office is on the second floor, across from the elevator. If you need assistance finding her office please ask at the front office.

When a student visits the counselor, he/she is not in trouble or “bad.” In fact, a counselor is an adult who acts as the student’s advocate! An advocate is someone who wants to listen to what you have to say and help you come up with reasonable solutions to making your situation better. It does not mean that your counselor can solve the problem for you; it does mean that you have a safe place that you can go to when you are not sure what to do.