Small Group Counseling

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1. Why was my child referred for counseling?
   1. Short Answer: Because someone who cares about them wants them to receive additional love and support! 
   2. Long Answer: Many students are referred for counseling so they can learn about big emotions and how to manage them. Some students have unique circumstances that can call for counseling support (e.g., grief/loss, divorce, big transitions), but students do not necessarily have to have a "problem" to see a counselor. Personally, I think all students could benefit from small group counseling and should be allowed to participate at least once during their elementary school years (and beyond)! At the end of the day, small group is a chance for students to connect with another safe adult in a safe space, connect with a few of their peers, and learn and practice useful social-emotional skills that can help them through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
2. How does Small Group Counseling work?
   
   1. Short Answer: During school hours, I pull students (2-4 per group) from class once a week for 30 minutes over the course of six to eight weeks. Lessons could focus on emotion management, coping strategies, social skills, friendship, impulse control, etc.
   2. Long Answer: During small group counseling, I would start off with greeting the students, and then establish/refresh on group expectations and agreements, and then go into a lesson and relevant activity. I use the Little Spot of Emotion curriculum by Diane Alber when I teach emotion management, but I tend to tailor lessons according to the need of the group. So, while I may have lessons planned in advance, I may tweak and adapt the content based on how the students respond and/or topics that come up. Art and games are incorporated to teach and reinforce material in a fun way!
   
   

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During the first week of group,

We will learn what small group is (i.e., a safe place to learn how to manage big feelings and practice coping skills to help us calm down), establish group agreements and expectations, and do get-to-know-you activities through games or art.

Agenda: Introductions, Group Agreements, Feelings Check-In, "All About Me" Art Activity

During the second week of group,

We will learn about emotions! It is important for students to be able to identify their emotions. Our emotions can get tangled up when we feel a lot of feelings at once, but once we can name them, we can tame them!

Agenda: Welcome, Group Agreements (if reminder is needed), Feelings Check-In, "A Little Scribble Spot" by Diane Alber, Scribble Art Activity or Game

During the third week of group,

We will learn about love languages and how students prefer to be shown love! Love comes in many forms. We can show love using words, actions, gifts, hugs, and quality time, but not everyone prefers to be shown love in the same way. And that's okay! Let's find out what can grow your love spot. ~

Agenda: Welcome, Group Agreements (if reminder is needed), Feelings Check-In, "A Little Spot of Love" by Diane Alber, "Love Flower/Petals" Art Activity or Game

During the fourth week of group,

We will learn about anger and what strategies we can use to manage it. Anger shows up when our bodies try to tell us when something feels wrong, or that our needs are unmet. It's okay to feel anger! But, it is not okay to take that anger out on others. How do we calm our anger spot?

Agenda: Welcome, Group Agreements (if reminder is needed), Feelings Check-In, "A Little Spot of Anger" by Diane Alber, "What Pushes Your Angry Button?" Activity or Game

During the fifth week of group,

We will learn about anxiety and what strategies we can use to manage it. Anxiety can be helpful in preparing us for the worst, but too much anxiety can be hurtful when it takes too much control! How do we calm our anxiety spot?

Agenda: Welcome, Group Agreements (if reminder is needed), Feelings Check-In, "A Little Spot of Anxiety" by Diane Alber, "Worry Pocket" Activity or Game

During the sixth week of group,

We will learn about sadness and what strategies we can use to manage it. It's okay to feel sad sometimes. Did you know that crying is actually a great way to let our bodies release energy? It is! It self-soothes to help us feel better. How else can we calm our sadness spot?

Agenda: Welcome, Group Agreements (if reminder is needed), Feelings Check-In, "A Little Spot of Sadness" by Diane Alber, Art Activity or Game

During the seventh week of group,

We will learn about confidence and how we can practice self-compassion, determination, and kindness to improve our self-perception/self-esteem. Our confidence spot can grow in many ways! Let's find out how.

Agenda: Welcome, Group Agreements (if reminder is needed), Feelings Check-In, "A Little Spot of Confidence" by Diane Alber, "I am..." Art Activity or Game

During the eighth week of group,

We will learn about peacefulness and coping/self-care strategies we can engage with to take care of ourselves. When we choose to calm ourselves down, it is easier for us to feel a sense of control, and that makes it easier for us to figure out what we're feeling, why we're feeling that way, and what we need!

Agenda: Welcome, Group Agreements (if reminder is needed), Feelings Check-In, "A Little Peaceful Spot" by Diane Alber, Calm Bottle Art Activity or Game