Group Counseling
by Matt Beck
August 03, 2009
The Erie Elementary Developmental Counseling Program is designed to be prevention based, educational, and developmental. In addition to seeing students individually and in classroom guidance, I teach skills and information in small group settings. School success depends not only on academic ability, but also on self confidence and social adjustment. Small groups usually meet for 20 minutes weekly for 4-6 weeks at a time arranged with the classroom teacher. The goals of small group counseling are: for students to have a safe place to share their feelings and concerns, to practice new skills with other students, and to have a more successful school experience.
Erie Elementary Small Counseling Groups
Study Skills Group
Objectives: set short term academic goals, develop
organizational skills, learn processes to best utilize time, and to
identify best place and time to study.
Friendship/New Student Group
Objectives: identify important qualities of a friend,
understand common friendship problems, develop a plan to improve
friendships, and practice new skills in making new friends.
Banana Splits
Objectives: express feelings about changing families,
understand that divorce/separation is not child’s fault, and to
understand positive ways family and group members can help in
adjustment.
Kindergarten Conqueror’s Group
Objectives: getting to know classroom peers and classroom
procedures, encouraging social interactions, and to help students
through the transition process into kindergarten.
Respect the Beat
Objectives: combine the excitement of world music drumming and
counseling, discussing student motivation, identifying feelings and
appropriately expressing them, understanding others point of view,
and learning how to talk out conflicts peacefully.
Putting on the Brakes
Objectives: designed to help students learn how to react in
safe and positive ways when words, situations, or threats make them
feel angry. Students will learn appropriate ways to express anger
and self-control.
Positive Pals
Objectives: designed to increase positive social skills, strategies in making new friends, and ways to stand up for yourself by using confident language that will help to boost self-esteem.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Objectives: Because the loss of someone special can overpower thoughts and actions, affecting schoolwork and peer relationships, this group will provide a safe place for children to discuss their feelings openly, honestly, and understand the grieving process.
Relaxing With Friends
Objectives: to discuss ways for managing fears. Students will learn safe and positive coping and relaxation skills.
Movin’ On Up
Objectives: familiarizing students with the middle school
transition process through discussions about a new school building,
staff, procedures, and common fears.
