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Who is your school counselor?

I am pleased to be addressing the needs of your child at C. T. Sewell Elementary School. Originally from Dallas, Texas, I completed my undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma. After graduating, I moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina where I began my teaching career. I taught at the secondary level for nine years, and during that time, I became very interested in school counseling. I completed my Masters Degree in counseling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I have been a school counselor in North Carolina for the past nineteen years. I look forward to working with your child to help ensure a successful year at C. T. Sewell Elementary.

The school counselor is a licensed professional educator who works as an integral part of the total education program. They assist students, teachers, parents, and administrators each day. Part of my job is helping you and your child make healthy choices. Please let me know if you need counseling referrals for your family.

I am also the Title 1 HOPE advocate for C. T. Sewell Elementary. We assist in temporary homeless situations. If you are in need of assistance, please email me directly at lpwalker@interact.ccsd.net or call the school office at (702) 799-8940.

Services:

Throughout the school year I will be offering many different programs including:

Classroom Guidance Lessons
Small Groups
Individual Counseling on a short-term basis
Counseling Through Role Play
Crisis Counseling

How does the counselor work?

Counseling is conducted with students individually and in small groups when requested and determined appropriate. It is short-erm, voluntary, and confidential. Parental permission is obtained prior to any extended individual or group counseling. Students are seen by the counselor when:

Parents request and indicate a need and desire that the counselor meet with their child.
Students request counseling.
Teachers, administrators, or other school staff refer the student.

Benefits of counseling:

Success in school
Develop positive feelings of self
Develop communication skills
Learn to cope with changes
Take responsibility for their own behavior

A good place to start:

When considering referring your child to counseling it is always good to review these questions:

What are the needs of the child?

What are his/her strengths? Weaknesses?

Is this a new behavior or concern or something that you have been dealing with
over an extened period?

Is there a time when the behavior/problem seems better/worse?

What have you found works for you and is effective in helping the child?

Describe a time when the child may have successfully managed the problem?
What skills did the child use? Who may have helped? How can we build on this?

Who are the people in the child's life that he/she can use for support?

What are some ways to restructure the environment providing a positive atmosphere?