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Primary Counseling » Small Groups

Small Groups

CLose up of children holding hands; one is wearing a red polo shirtMeridian Primary offers counselor-led Small Groups, which support Social and Emotional Learning. These groups are led by Ms. Louth, and will consist of 3-4 students who will engage in fun activities geared to reinforce positive social or self-regulating behaviors on a weekly basis for six weeks. If there are not enough students to form a group for your student, then the counselor will schedule individual visits instead.

Students can be referred to small groups and individual check-ins in several ways; administrators, teachers, parents/guardians can communicate with the counselor about referrals. Parent/Guardian permission is always required to participate in a group or weekly individual visits.

POSSIBLE SMALL GROUP TOPICS:

Friendship/Social Skills: The friendship group is for forming stronger bonds and strengthening friendship skills. This group could be formed in a few ways: It could be either a fun, social gathering geared to be a stress-free lunch with peers and some social guidance from the counselor -OR- It could be a group that works more intensely on friendship skills, such as acknowledging and strengthening how to connect and communicate with others, building friendly behaviors, and learning appropriate ways to problem-solve. It depends on the needs of the students who are referred. These groups may or may not be during lunch and will need a permission form signed by a parent/guardian to participate. 

Anger Management: Intended for students who will be working on managing their angry feelings in a positive way. This group will explore the triggers of our anger and focus on building skills to handle our anger more effectively. This group will need a permission form signed by a parent/guardian to participate.

Stress Management (Anxiety Group): This group grows in strength as we build relationships and share experiences and feelings. Some fun activities are relaxation techniques, yoga for kids, breathing techniques, nature walks, and working with the stories that we tell ourselves (changing our inner dialogue). This group will need a permission form signed by a parent/guardian to participate.

Changing Families: Life is like the waves of the ocean … constantly changing. Change can be exciting or at times hard to adjust to. A new sibling, new jobs, a move, and marriages (divorce or a blended family) are just some examples! We learn about being resilient and enjoy the company of group members with similar experiences.This group will need a permission form signed by a parent/guardian to participate.

Self-Concept: In this group, we will focus on identifying and celebrating our strengths as well as on developing positive thoughts and skills to use to be a productive and positive person.This group will need a permission form signed by a parent/guardian to participate.

School Success Skills: This group will explore and strengthen the skills for school success. Depending on the specific needs of the group, the group may focus on listening and attention skills, organization, study tips, test taking tips, and building motivation. This group will need a permission form signed by a parent/guardian to participate.