School-based Counseling

School-based counseling is one of the mental health services delivered to Kingsway students.  School-based counseling is essential to Kingsway’s ability to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for all students, address classroom behavior and discipline, promote students’ academic success, prevent and respond to crisis, support students’ social-emotional needs, identify and respond to serious mental health problems, and support and partner with at-risk families. Ideally, school-based services dovetail with community-based services so that children and youth receive the support they need in a seamless, coordinated, and comprehensive system of care.  It is important to note, that all counseling services are confidential between student and school professional, unless the student is a threat to her/himself, a threat to others, or if someone is harming the student. 

While counseling support is available to all Kingsway students, different types of counseling have been established to meet the needs of particular populations of students (ie. The school psychologist is on the Child Study Team and is meant to be available for students who receive special education and related services).  Kingsway's school counselors include the social worker, psychologist, Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC), and guidance counselors. However, if a student's needs supersede the abilities of school staff, referrals will be provided to meet the specific needs of the student.

Types of school-based counseling

School-based counseling is a service provided to students and delivered by qualified practitioners.  Different types of counseling services are offered to students, for a variety of reasons.

• Individual Counseling is provided on a 1:1 basis.  It is meant to help students resolve personal or interpersonal problems, may be prevention-based as a way to monitor any developing or potential difficulties, and address specific behavioral and emotional issues. Individual school-based counseling provide students with the tools to be able to manage situations on their own.

• Group Counseling (small and large groups) includes a number of students with similar goals who work together with their school professional to reach and maintain their academic, career and social/emotional developmental, and/or situational goals.  Sessions are aimed at helping students enhance their listening and social skills, learn to empathize with others, and find social support through healthy peer relationships, and will also focus on other specific topics. This format encourages cooperation and sharing among peers in a structured setting.

• Prevention Groups help students make better choices. Drug and alcohol prevention counseling teaches students about harmful effects of substance abuse when they are young in an effort to prevent later abuse of cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs. The target of this type of counseling is to reach all students through substance abuse prevention.

• Social Emotional Learning via Classroom Presentations are offered through Kingsway's #1DragonFamily character education initiative, and it touches on topics such as building self-esteem, conflict resolution, and leadership skills.

Ways to access school-based counseling:

There are two primary ways to initially access school-based mental health services counseling: 1) through referral by an adult in the student’s life (parent, teacher, or administrator); or 2) self-referral. When there is a suspected need or concern, parents should call their child’s school to determine the appropriate professional to contact and what types of supports are available.

For additional information on school-based counseling, please refer to the following resources:

- Overview of Mental Health Services

- The School Counselor and Group Counseling