Counseling Thank You Letter

I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work with your student and am looking forward getting to know them and your family. The purpose of this document is to provide you with information regarding my background, to inform students and parents about the counseling program, describe the nature of the counselor relationship, and to inform you of your rights. It is my hope that the information provided demonstrates to be beneficial to you. If there are any questions or concerns regarding the counseling program, please feel free to either stop by my office or contact me at any time.

Professional Education:

In December 2013, I received my Bachelor of Psychology from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. I attended

graduate school at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan where I received my Masters of Education degree in School Counseling in December 2015. My graduate program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) which involves a comprehensive evaluation of the professional education unit and is responsible for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel.
American Counseling Association’s Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the national recognized accrediting agency for counseling graduate programs.
Licensure:
I have obtained a Michigan School Counseling License (SCL) #A1111 since December 2015.
Professional Memberships:
American School Counseling Association (ASCA)
Role as School Counselor:
My mission as a school counselor is to enable all students to experience educational success by providing guidance in the areas of academic, career, and citizenship development. Additionally, it is my goal to help students overcome challenges that interfere with learning and administer an environment that supports high achievement for all students. Lastly, the aim of the school counseling program is for students to become successful learners, responsible citizens and productive members of a global economy.
Counseling Philosophy and Services:
I provide counseling services to students who either refer themselves or are referred to me by either a caregiver or teacher. My approach to counseling students is based on using Solution Focused Brief Therapy, which include goal-directed strategies. My aim is to help students eliminate barriers that may restrict their ability to learn. I will use individual, group, and classroom counseling sessions to deal with issues or concerns and will further instruct parents, teachers and others on how to implement certain actions or plans to be able to address or resolve these issues. My approach is to address feelings, behaviors, thoughts, and beliefs and to be welcoming, and empathetic. My focus is always directed toward creating positive change that will lead to eliminating obstacles that may interfere with learning and long-term success.
Ethics:
I will abide by the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association, the Ethical Standards of the American School Counselor Association.

Informed Consent:

The next two sections outline the rights of students and parents.

To The Client:

• I will keep what we talk about in counseling confidential. This means I will not share with others what you tell me unless I have your permission.

• I will treat you with respect and as a unique individual. I will respect your individual values and not inflict my own values on you. I will work with you to create personal goals and a plan to achieve your goals.

• There are some serious situations where I need assistance in order to help a student, and I will need to break the confidentiality agreement. In the following situations I am required to tell if:

o I discover from you or someone else that someone is hurting you.

o I discover from you or someone else that you plan to harm someone else.

o I discover from you or someone else that you plan to harm yourself.

o A judge tells me I have to in a court of law disperse information.

• If you are in a small group with other students, I will strongly encourage all group members to keep confidentiality, but I cannot guarantee

it.
• If the need arises where I need help from other counselors or educators to determine the best way to help a student. If I need to do this, your name will not be used and I will keep your identity private.
To The Parent of Client under 18:
• I will keep what your child and I talk about in counseling confidential. This means I will not share with others or you what they tell me unless I have their permission.
• I will treat your child with respect and as a unique individual. I will respect your child’s individual values and not inflict my own values on him or her. I will work with you and your child to create personal goals and a plan to achieve your goals.
• There are some serious situations where I need assistance in order to help a student, and I will need to break the confidentiality agreement. In the following situations I am required to tell if:
o I discover from you or someone else that someone is hurting you.
o I discover from you or someone else that you plan to harm someone else.
o I discover from you or someone else that you plan to harm yourself.
o A judge tells me I have to in a court of law disperse information.
• If your child is in a small group with other students, I will strongly encourage all group members to keep confidentiality, but I cannot guarantee it.
• If the need arises where I need help from other counselors or educators to determine the best way to help a student. If I need to do this in order to help your child, I will not use your child’s name and I will keep your identity private.
Complaint Procedures:
Please if you have any questions or are dissatisfied in any aspect of our work please inform me immediately. I am confident we can work through any issues you may have if you remain open to me. However, if we are unable to resolve the issue or you think that you have been treated unfairly or unethically, you can contact my supervisor, ______, at _______email.com. If you have any questions at any time throughout treatment, please do not hesitate to ask.