home

==

==

//Welcome to the COUNSELING CORNER!//  //**Charlotte Justice, LPC,**// provides guidance and counseling support for Laurel Mountain students in a number of ways//://

__**CLASSROOM GUIDANCE:**__ Structured lessons in every K-5 classroom on topics including:
 * bullying and teasing,
 * making and keeping friends,
 * problem-solving and decision-making,
 * staying safe and drug-free
 * goal setting,
 * developing a healthy self-esteem and coping skills,
 * dealing with stress and test anxiety, and
 * exploring college and careers

Students learn these skills by listening to stories and songs, getting involved in activities and games and practicing with puppets or role plays.

__**SMALL GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS:**__ Groups are held once per week, are time-limited in nature, and are focused on topics such as grief and loss, parental separation, improving self-esteem, understanding and coping with a variety of different emotions, appropriate communication with peers and adults, and developing and maintaining friendships. Students look forward to these activity-based sessions. Parent permission is needed for students to participate in a small group.

__**MEET and EAT:**__ Any student new to Laurel Mountain in August will meet during lunch within the first month of school to get to know each other and more about LME. Some students choose to continue to meet and check-in on a regular basis during the first semester.

__**INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING:**__ Individual meetings with students consist of brief, solution-focused interventions to assist children with difficulties that may negatively affect them during the school day. Sessions are limited, and referrals to outside providers are available for more in-depth counseling as appropriate.

__**CONSULTATION:**__ Consultation with parents/guardians, students, and staff is available to assist with planning and problem-solving in regards to academic, social-emotional, or behavioral needs of students.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__**PEER MEDIATION:**__ The PAX United Peers Making Peace mediation program empowers students who experience conflict to resolve problems in a win-win manner, led by fourth and fifth grade students trained in the program and bound to confidentiality. The program is monitored by Mrs. Justice. Students who participate learn a model for resolving conflicts, and benefit from problem-solving strategies used that can be applied across situations. Students can self-refer through their teacher, or contact Mrs. Justice directly, to set up a mediation.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__**PROS:**__ Westwood High School students, called PROS, meet with individual or small groups of students (referred by parents, teachers, or student self-referral) once a week to work on projects, play games with an academic or pro-social focus, read, or practice friendship skills. Parent permission is needed for students to receive this support.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__**PARENTING EDUCATION:**__ Parent education includes workshops on Love and Logic and other topics of interest. All parenting materials are available in the counseling office, and can be checked out through the library system.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__**COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS:**__ There are a vast number of resources in our community to support our students and families. Resources such as clothing vouchers, food pantries, outside tutoring or counseling are often just a phone call away. Mrs. Justice is eager to help our families find the appropriate resources to fit their needs.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__**PAWS PROGRAM:**__ Our PAWS program provides daily support for students on personalized behavioral, social-emotional, and/or organizational concerns (examples: completing work, following verbal directions, increasing time on task, having positive social interactions with peers, etc.). Students are referred by teachers for this support, and get to have input about their goals. Our students in the PAWS program check-in with the PAWS facilitator before and after school each day. The PAWS program uses positive behavior supports and frequent communication with parents to help students reach their goals.

__**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">How can my child get counseling support? **__ Parents can request a visit for themselves or their child by calling 464-4304 or emailing charlotte_justice@roundrockisd.org. If there is an urgent matter, please call the office at 464-4300. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Students may also either tell their teacher they would like to see Mrs. Justice, or leave a note in the mailbox outside of the Counseling Office (across from the library) to request an appointment.