Welcome to the ICS School Counseling Department!   My name is Maria Wedaman.   

 

A school counseling program is important because it gives student’s the extra love and support they need while they are at school as they experience changes and challenges, personally and developmentally. As the school counselor at ICS, I am here to help students’ obtain success in their academic, personal, and social education, and to teach them to treat other’s in a Christ-like manner so they can mature into leaders in our society. My main concern is for children to feel happy and secure in their learning environment while attending Incarnation in order to enhance their growth and success. Please contact me if there is anything I can be of some help with. The support and involvement from students and parents in the process of solving all issues and concerns are important and very much appreciated!

Counseling Services:  Individual, Group, and In-class guidance programs.

Examples of topics covered with the counselor and students to enhance character development:

Conflict Resolution/No-Bullying

Self-esteem issues

Showing respect for peers and teachers

Kindness and honesty:  being a good friend, making a new student feel welcome

Communication and social skills

Responsibility, personal hygiene, organization skills, study skills

Behavioral modification in the classroom

Transition from elementary school to middle school

Leadership skills, career awareness, goal setting, time management

Grief, sickness, and divorce counseling

Anxiety, stress, eating disorders, and depression counseling

Staying safe and drug free

Team work

Counseling Support offered to parents:

 I will communicate with parents through email, phone conversations, and/or Student Success Team (SST) meetings when there is a need to talk about your child’s academic and behavioral performance in the classroom and in social settings (lunch, recess, P.E., etc). I will communicate with parents on issues I need to be made aware of such as: family divorce, family death, or if your child comes home to say something is bothering them, or your concerns about a certain issue/situation. I will inform parents when and if a referral is needed for psychological testing or other counseling services.  My desire is to help your child be as successful as he/she can be.

 

How a child will get to see the counselor:

A student may self-refer by filling out a request form, which are located in each classroom, and then putting the form in the counselor’s locked box located on the wall by the gym door (I check my box every morning), A student may be referred by his/her teacher, A student may be referred by his/her parent. Parent can call or email me at anytime asking to refer their child to come talk to me.

 

 

Confidentiality:

The time a student spends in the counseling office is a special time, which is based on a trusting relationship. I want students to feel they can talk to me about anything that is bothering them.  To continue the trusting relationship between student and counselor, I am allowed to discuss strengths, concerns, and general feedback with parents, but specifics of the counseling session are usually not shared.  I will only discuss areas of a counseling session with teachers and administration when it directly involves a student’s classroom performance or behavior. Your support and trust as parents is very important to me, and I appreciate the support very much. Parents are contacted immediately if a student discusses intent to harm him/herself or someone else. All employees at ICS are required by law to report any disclosures of abuse by any student.