An elementary school counselor provides preventive and intervention services, including tools for communicating, problem solving, building and maintaining friendships, and self-regulation. School counselors also provide classroom guidance lessons, facilitate small group lessons, scheduled individual counseling sessions, and provide referrals for community resources when needed.

Students can see their school counselor via self-referral (sign in sheet or got a problem slip), parental request (by phone or email), request of the counselor, administrative referral, and/or teacher or staff referral. Students may be referred to the school counselor if there are concerns that are inhibiting their learning here at school. Some concerns, but not limited to are: behavioral, social/ emotional, and academic concerns.

What the child says during a counseling session is to remain between the counselor and the child unless:

1. The child is in imminent danger.
2. Someone else is in imminent danger.
3. The child reports any incident of abuse and/or neglect.
4. The child asks me to disclose information.

If necessary, a report to an outside agency would be made and support staff and/or parents would be notified depending on the situation.

Sessions may be held on a scheduled, ongoing basis or simply as needed. Most sessions tend to be between ten and twenty minutes.

You can reach the counselor by phone, email, or set up an in person conference. 609-561-8666 ext 123 RSchaefer@folsomschool.org . Work hours are Monday-Friday from 8:15am – 3:30pm.

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

No. The role of the counselor is to help. Counselors 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 but you have a safe, calm place that you can go to when you are not sure what to do.