School Counselor
Mrs. Kate Hankins is the counselor at Belmont for grades kindergarten through fifth grade. She can be reached by phone at 301-924-3140. You may also contact by email at Katherine_C_Hankins@mcpsmd.org
The counseling program includes working with individual students, small groups and classroom guidance. The counseling relationship allows children to explore feelings and interests and provides an opportunity to explore specific issues or concerns. The counseling program also supports typical students with typical problems. Topics frequently discussed with students may include:
- School concerns
- Family concerns
- Fears
- Teasing
- Peer relationships
- Self-improvement
- Behavior concerns
- Self-esteem
- Study skills
- Goal setting
- Decision-making
- Grief/loss
- Serious illness
- Coping skills
- Anger management
- Social skills
- Responsibility
A major focus of the counseling program is on prevention and involves classroom activities to develop personal, social and learning skills. Small group counseling provides students an opportunity to develop skills, share ideas, and support one another. Individual counseling is available for all students. Students may self-refer or be referred to the counselors by teachers and/or parents.
One key to a child's success at school is good communication between school and home. The counselor is available to meet with parents to discuss their child's needs. The counselor is a consultant to parents and teachers to create a caring and successful school community.
An important consideration in the counseling relationship is confidentiality. The counselor is a professional who maintains confidentiality with students, parents, and parents.
Typical Students with Typical Problems
Sometimes these problems aren't even problems, but confusing situations and/or difficult choices. Sometimes we visit about good or exciting happenings, the kind of things kids just have to share! Some problems are really big, or appear that way to the child or parent. Problems are most often peer, family related, or personal concerns. They arise from relationships with others as well as from the child's feeling of worth. Common problems we work on with a student are academic motivation, sadness, fears, loss, and other developmental concerns. The counselor is available to provide resources for outside counseling.
Classroom Guidance Activities
Preventive guidance is a very important part of our counseling program. Classroom guidance activities include self-esteem skills, peer relationships, responsible decision-making, communication skills, and conflict management. For several weeks student take part in a series of anti-bullying programs. Lessons in the spring cover career awareness. A goal of classroom guidance is to develop skills, attitudes and behaviors that will assist all students in growing toward social, emotional and academic success.
Small Group Counseling
Counselors frequently see small groups of children. These groups may have similar concerns or a variety of concerns. They may also be friendship groups where we work on issues related to being a good friend. Most groups are 6-8 students and meet for a limited time. Other topics might include loss, skill development, divorce, anger control, and self esteem.
Variety of Methods
A direct approach or problem-solving model may be used if the child comes to the counselor with a specific problem. The problem can be defined, solutions explored, alternatives considered and solutions tried. Counseling involves a skill-building component that might include teaching social skills, anger management, and problem solving techniques. Another method may be called expressive. A child may exhibit different behavior or depressive signs, but the reasons are not clear. Through various activities including play with puppets or clay, toys, drawing, talking or others, the counselor may be able to discover the source of the problem. It is then possible to help the child to express and deal with the difficulty.
Character Education
Character education is the framework for the counseling program that will help your child focus on virtues needed to treat themselves, others, and their world with respect and dignity.
Parent Resources
A variety of books are kept in the counselors' office. These are for parent's use. There are resources that deal with discipline, loss, divorce, attention disorders and related childhood problems and general parenting resources. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Hankins to check out these materials.