Counseling Documents (Data Collection and Parent Contact)

Today I am sharing two forms that I use on a daily basis.  The first form is a form that teachers fill out for new student referrals and the second form is the form that I send home with students after each counseling session so that their parent/gaurdian knows what they are working on in counseling.

Referral Process.  Anyone can refer a student to see me for school counseling services.  I get the majority of my referrals from teachers.  Either way, once I have a student referred for services, I give the teacher this form:  Data Collection.  The teacher fills out the form and returns it to me.  I then use this information to come up with goals for the student.  This form usually stays between the teacher and I but there have been cases where it has been shared with parents.  I usually begin seeing the student within one week of the referral date.  I then begin using this form:  Parent Follow-up.  I use the parent follow-up form so that parents feel in-the-loop.  I make a copy for myself and keep the copy in my file.  This form has been a life saver.  I have had great feed-back from parents.

Connections to other referral forms and counseling documents:
School Counseling Referral Form by Music City School Counselor

TPT: Self-Referral for school counseling

TPT: Self-Referral Form For School Counseling

Individual Counseling Forms From Elementary School Counseling

Guide to the Referral Process (with forms)

Counseling Keepsake

I have started having my counseling students create their own books as a way for them to document their counseling strategies.  Students love doing this and parents love seeing what their student is working on during sessions.  We work on the books during our sessions-typically a page each session, and when the book is finished they keep it at home or in their desk at school.  

 You can order the blank books HERE  or HERE.  I have already used 35 books this year.

Here are some examples of books that my students have worked on:

I let them decorate the front cover.  This student chose to put a blue school bus on the cover:

This is a page out of a social thinking book.  I always send home a list of terms/definitions for parents but this gives the student a resource to look back at:

The next few pages are all from the same book.  A small group is working on friendship skills and titled their books "Our Friendship Rules".  They come up with a rule each session and after the lesson they add the rule to their own individual book.

Rule #1:  Anybody can play.

Rule #2: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Rule #3:  Don't spread a rumor or gossip.

I didn't get a picture of Rule #4:  Have Ownership.  Admit to the wrong things that you do, apologize, make it right.

Rule #5:  Be a bucket filler:  say one nice thing a day about someone.