Counseling Services Overview

I am available for teachers, parents, and students to assist with any difficulties or problems that may interfere with school success.  Students can be seen for small group counseling, and/or short term individual counseling at the request of the parents, teachers, or students. The school counselor works collaboratively with parents, school professionals, and students to facilitate all students' academic, emotional, and social growth.  It is the counselors' responsibility to identify and remove barriers that may impede academic achievement.

 To refer your child for help from the counseling office: hherring@acpsd.net. 

 Classroom Guidance

cartoon students surrounding their teacher who is reading

All students at Mossy Creek Elementary have the opportunity to meet with their school counselor during classroom guidance lessons.  Mrs. Herring will be meeting with all grade levels throughout the school year.  These sessions focus on a specific issue that could negatively impact learning and/or social development and were designed around the American School Counselor Association Standards.

Some of the topics covered are:

  • Anger

  • Bullying Awareness/Prevention

  • Kindness

  • Personal Body Safety

  • Self-Esteem

  • Career Awareness

  • Self-Control

  • Internet Safety

  • Empathy

  • Growth Mindset

  • Identifying Feelings

  • Friendship

  • Growing Up Boys/Girls (4th/5th grade only)

  • Middle School Transitions 

Individual Counseling

cartoon person with office supplies saying how can i help you?

Students at Mossy Creek Elementary are able to meet one-on-one with the school counselor on a short term basis to discuss issues that are affecting their academic success.   School counselors use play therapy techniques such as drawing, games, sandbox, Legos, etc as a way to discuss school counseling goals as outlined by the American School Counselor Association.  This includes helping students reach their academic, personal, social, and career potential.

 Small Group Counseling

cartoon students holding hands in a circle

Another counseling service available to students at Mossy Creek Elementary is group counseling.  This is done by grade level and topic, such as resilience, friendship, grief/loss, divorce, feelings, etc.  These groups and topics are based on a needs assessment completed by classroom teachers and from parent, teacher, and school staff feedback. During groups, play therapy (drawing, role-playing, visualization, game play, etc) is used as a way to discuss school counseling goals as outlined by the American School Counselor Association. 

 Other School Counselor activities

Throughout the year, Mrs.Herring is present, with or involved, with many other activities, including:

  • Monthly "Coffee with the Counselor" parent information sessions

  • "Leader in Me" lighthouse team member coordinator. 

  • Managing the Volunteer program

  • Faculty Advisory/Leadership Team

  • School Based Leadership/Intervention Team

  • Youth Development/Behavior Team

  • Special events related to Day of Caring, Unity Day, Kindness Month, Bullying Prevention Month, etc. 

  • Creating a monthly Counselor's Corner newsletter

  • School Counselor Mentor and Peer Evaluator

  • School Counseling Intern Supervisor

Ongoing Professional Development

  • Child Advocacy Center-Stewards of Light, October 2015

  • Suicide Risk and Assesment Training, January 2016

  • Mandated Reporter Training, February 2016

  • Care Ministry Resource Training, March 2016

  • Tech Fest Presenter-Google Forms for Counselors, March 2016

  • Legal Implications Training, Dr. Carolyn Stone, January 2017

  • ASCA Program Training, Dr. Carolyn Stone, August 2017

  • Suicide Update/Assessment-March 2018, Taylor Davis, ACPSD Professional Development

  • Read to Succeed for Administrators/Counselors, Summer 2018

  • Effective Support Groups for the School Counselor, Karen Griffith, August 2018, ACPSD Professional Development

  • Supporting Military Children through School Transitions, Military Child Coalition, November 2018, ACPSD Professional Development                                                          

  • Mandated Reporter Training, USC Children's Law Center, January 2019, ACPSD Professional Development 

  • Boys in Crisis, aha! Process training Ruby Payne, April 2019

  • Supporting Military Students training, South Carolina State Department, August 2019, ACPSD Professional Development 

  • A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Ruby Payne, August 2019  

  • Georgia Association of School Counselors Annual Conference, Augusta, Georgia, November 2019

  • Signs Matter, Early Detection, online training through American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Rutgers University, April 2020

  • Trauma Informed Resilient Schools, online training through Starr Commonwealth, April 2020

  • MCEC Military Child Student2Student Ambassador Training, Military Child Education Coalition, October 2020

  • 4.0 Evaluator Training, October 2020, Aiken County School District 

  • Palmetto State School Counselor's Conference, (virtual) January 2021

  • CERRA Mentor Training, July 2021 

  • Palmetto State School Counselor's Conference, Hilton Head Island, January 2023

  • South Carolina Department of Education LEAD cohort, Summer 2022-June 2023

  • Mental Health First Aid Training, National Council for Mental Well-Being, August 2023

  • Leader in Me School Training, ongoing

  • ASCA National Model training, September 2023

  • Palmetto State School Counselor's Conference, Hilton Head Island, January 2024