Counseling Services

BMS COUNSELING SERVICES

Counselor: Danielle M. Watson, M.Ed. School Counseling (Email)

Secretary: Donna Smith (Email)

Note from the Counselor
Todayâs young people are living in an exciting time, with an increasingly diverse society, new technologies, and expanding opportunities. To help ensure that they are prepared to become the next generation of parents, workers, leaders, and citizensâ, every student needs support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth and change. Early adolescents face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, that have an impact on academic achievement.

Middle School Studentsâ Developmental Needs
Middle school is an exciting, yet challenging time for students, their parents and teachers. During this passage from childhood to adolescence, middle school students are characterized by a need to explore a variety of interests, connecting their learning in the classroom to its practical application in life and work; high levels of activity coupled with frequent fatigue due to rapid growth; a search for their own unique identity as they begin turning more frequently to peers rather than parents for ideas and affirmation; extreme sensitivity to the comments from others; and heavy reliance on friends to provide comfort, understanding and approval.

 

Meeting the Challenge
As a Middle school counselor, I am a professional educator with a mental health perspective who understands and responds to the challenges presented by todayâs diverse student population. I do not work in isolation; rather the counseling program is integral to the total educational program. I strive to provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve success in school. I align my goals with the schoolâs mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program. The ASCA National Standards in the academic, National Model: A Framework For School Counseling Programs, with its data driven and results-based focus serves as a guide for todayâs school counselors who are uniquely trained to implement this program.

Middle School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:
School Guidance Curriculum
Academic skills support
Organizational, study and test-taking skills
Education in understanding self and others
Coping strategies
Peer relationships and effective social skills
Communication, problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution
Career awareness, exploration and planning
Substance abuse education
Multicultural/diversity awareness


Individual Student Planning
Goal-setting/decision- making
Academic planning
Career planning
Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
Transition planning

Responsive Services
Individual and small group counseling
Individual/family/school crisis intervention
Peer facilitation
Consultation/collaboration
Referrals


System Support
Professional development
Consultation, collaboration and teaming
Program management and operation

Middle School Counselors Collaborate With:
Parents
Parent information night
Communication/networking
Academic planning programs
Parent and family education
One-on-one parent conferencing
Assessment results interpretation
Resource referrals
College/career exploration
Teachers
Career portfolio development
Assistance with studentsâ academic plans
Classroom guidance activities on study skills, career development, etc.
Academic support, learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically
Classroom career speakers
At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success
Parent communication/education
Administrators
School climate
Behavioral management plans
School-wide needs assessment
Student data and results
Student assistance team building
Leadership
Students
Peer education
Peer support
Academic support
School climate
Leadership development