Middle School Counseling Program

The Middle School Counseling Program provides a safe place for students to meet, individually or in small groups, to focus on social and emotional development, and to seek guidance from IDEAL’s school counselors. In addition to providing counseling to students enrolled in the Zenith and Dylan Programs, the school counselors also check in with and provide counseling on a short-term or as-needed basis for all students. Students engage in conversations and self-reflection through play, activities, and dialogue about their thoughts, feelings, needs, and behavioral choices. Students increase their levels of independence in emotional self-regulation, self-advocacy, and interpersonal skills. They learn strategies for coping with difficult situations, thus developing skills which can be utilized in the broader social world.