Counseling
My name is Kate Blackford, and I am so excited to begin my first year as the school counselor at Eagle Ridge Elementary! I look forward to building meaningful relationships with our students, families, and staff and making this a wonderful year together.
As the school counselor, my goal is to help every student feel safe, supported, and valued. I believe that when students know they are cared for and have the tools to navigate challenges, they are better able to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.
Throughout the school year, I will work with students to support their academic, social, and emotional growth. Together, we will build important life skills such as emotional regulation, self-awareness, conflict resolution, friendship skills, resilience, organization, goal setting, and responsible decision-making. I also help students navigate challenges such as anxiety, stress, family changes, grief, peer conflicts, self-esteem, and learning how to advocate for themselves. By partnering with families, teachers, and staff, I strive to ensure every child feels supported, connected, and equipped with the tools they need to be successful both in and out of the classroom.
I am looking forward to an amazing school year and can't wait to meet all of our Eagle Ridge families! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if there is ever a way I can support your child.
#NoPlaceLikeERE
The Zones of Regulation is a social-emotional curriculum geared toward helping students gain skills in consciously regulating their actions, which in turn leads to increased control and problem solving abilities. Using a cognitive behavior approach, the curriculum’s learning activities are designed to help students recognize when they are in different states called “zones,” with each of four zones represented by a different color. Throughout the year, students learn how to use strategies or tools to stay in a zone or move from one to another. The green zone is the optimal zone for learning!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does a school counselor do?
Much like the school nurse, counseling services are available to ALL students, not just those with an emotional disability or in a crisis. It is our job to make sure that each student is happy and doing their best at school. This is a tall order since so many factors go into kids doing well i.e. their ability to focus and pay attention, their relationships with peers and teachers, how well they can manage their feelings and impulses, and their lives outside of school. We address these issues using individual or small group counseling, as well as in classroom guidance lessons. The school counselor will see each child one time per month in a guidance lesson with a focus on feelings, problem solving, relationship building, goal setting, and much, much more. Small groups will begin in October. Topics covered include; divorce, friendship, study skills, and worry. If you are interested in having your child participate, please contact one of us.
How are you different from a therapist at an outside agency?
We frequently see children just a few times, or in the classroom setting rather than our office. Although we often help children with family problems and behavior at home, our primary role is to deal with school-related problems. Sometimes an issue is better addressed more intensively in a therapeutic setting, and with greater direct parental involvement. Contact us if you'd like referrals for an outside therapist for your child.
How do children get to see the counselor?
Children may come to see the counselor in a variety of ways. Usually it's by recommendation of the classroom teacher and/or the parent. Often, children will ask their teachers if they can see the counselor. We see students as quickly as possible and try to help them get back to class ready to learn.
Will you notify me if you see my child?
Children frequently pop in to tell us about relatively minor or time-limited issues like an argument with a peer or the death of a pet. If that happens, we may not notify you unless: there is a safety concern, your child has asked to see the counselor repeatedly, or if the worry or problem is significant (by adult standards). If a student participates in a regularly scheduled meeting, written consent is required.