Guidance

School Counseling at Good Shepherd

The mission of Good Shepherd Catholic School Counseling is to support the academic, spiritual, social, emotional, and personal growth of our students. School counseling provides a supportive space where students can develop skills to understand themselves, manage emotions, navigate relationships, overcome challenges, and succeed in school.

Our approach is responsive to individual student needs. The school counselor provides support and skill-building based on student needs and referrals, with the goal of helping students develop strategies they can use with increasing independence throughout the school day and beyond. Through solution-focused brief counseling and cognitive-behavioral strategies, the counselor helps students work through challenges, build coping and self-regulation skills, and return successfully to the classroom, where they can continue the important work of learning and participating in the school community. With older students, counseling also helps students connect their thoughts, feelings, and actions so they can make grounded, responsible, and faith-filled choices.

How Students Access Counseling

Students may be referred to the school counselor by:

·         The student

·         A teacher

·         A parent or guardian

·         An administrator

·         Another member of the school support team

Students do not need to be experiencing a crisis to benefit from counseling. Support may be helpful when emotions, relationships, behavior, transitions, or academic challenges are affecting a student's ability to learn, participate, or successfully navigate the school day.

The Goal of School Counseling

School counseling teaches skills that promote self-awareness, self-regulation, coping, problem-solving, healthy relationships, and academic success.

School counseling is not a replacement for individualized private mental health therapy or behavior therapy. When appropriate and with required parent/guardian permission, the school counselor may collaborate with a student's outside therapist to support shared goals and consistency between school and outside care.

What We Work On

Self & Emotional Wellness

  • Identifying and understanding emotions

  • Self-reflection to identify triggers, motivations, tendencies, and habits

  • Coping, calming, and self-regulation strategies

  • Understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings, motivations, and behaviors

  • Building self-awareness, confidence, resilience, and healthy self-talk

  • Developing strategies to become calm, centered, and ready to learn

  • Leaning on God’s truth and presence in our lives to help grow and cope

Social Development & Relationships

  • Empathy

  • Friendship and peer relationship skills

  • Active listening and open, honest, responsible communication

  • Conflict resolution and problem-solving

  • Managing disagreements and repairing relationships

  • Creating and keeping boundaries

  • Respectful interactions

  • Thinking ahead and making positive choices

  • Remembering how Jesus walked the earth and make it our aim to treat others as He did

Academic Success

  • Organization, time management, and study strategies

  • Goal-setting, planning, and action steps

  • Productive learning habits

  • Identifying distractions and practicing self-control

  • Problem-solving academic challenges

  • Self-advocacy and asking for help

  • Building confidence and independence as a learner

Personal Growth

  • Decision-making and responsible choices

  • Learning from mistakes

  • Recognizing strengths and areas for growth

  • Managing transitions and change

  • Developing independence, resilience, and perseverance

When Should I Reach Out?

Parents, teachers, administrators, and students are encouraged to reach out when additional support may be helpful with:

  • Managing emotions, stress, or coping

  • Friendships, peer relationships, or conflict

  • Communication and social skills

  • Behavior, motivation, organization, or academic challenges

  •   Self-confidence, transitions, or other personal concerns

Supporting the Whole Child

School counseling is part of Good Shepherd Catholic School's commitment to supporting the whole child. The counselor works with students, families, teachers, administrators, and the Student Services Team to support student growth and success.

When a student's needs extend beyond the scope of school-based counseling, the counselor may work with families to connect the student with appropriate community or mental health resources.

As a Catholic school, Good Shepherd recognizes the dignity, worth, and unique gifts of every child. Our counseling program supports students as they grow in self-awareness, responsibility, compassion, respect for others, and the ability to make choices that contribute to a healthy and caring school community.

Need Support?

If you have a concern about your child or would like to discuss whether school counseling may be helpful, please contact the school counselor.

Babita Hinduja
Certified School Counselor, grades K-8
bhinduja@goodshepherd.org