Mrs. Gina Infante Gr. PreK-4   Ext. 107

Ms. Krista Deckhut Gr. 5-8   Ext. 311

BTS Counseling Corner Website

GOAL: It is the goal of this counseling program to offer support services to the students, their parents, and the teachers of Bedminster Township School. Through coordination with the individuals who have an impact on the child, and with the child himself/herself, maximum effort can be directed toward helping students become responsible, emotionally healthy individuals who are capable of utilizing their full potential.

School Counselor Services

A. Direct services to students Individual counseling Group counseling Classroom lessons Peer mediation/conflict resolution  B. Direct services to teachers, administrators and other staff members Staff consultation Staff collaboration Parent/teacher conference Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS) Section 504 C. Direct services to parents/guardians Parent consultation New Student Tours Community Resources Parenting programs: Workshops Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Orientations D. Indirect services coordinated by counselor Community resources coordination Character education coordination Anti-Bullying Specialist CAP coordination Monthly Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC) meetings Coordination with Somerset County Youth Services Johns Hopkins Program Coordination Scheduling (Conferences, summer, etc) Grant Writing: Somerset Hills Municipal Alliance Commission Somerset Hills Youth Service Child Assault Prevention (CAP) E. Program leadership and development Program evaluation Counselor professional development Section 504 School Safety Team Members Social Emotional Learning Initiative Articulation with Somerset Hills School District

Classroom/Advisory Lesson Topics

Classroom topics vary with needs of classes.

Additional Programs

• Conflict Resolution
• Character Counts
• Red Ribbon Week
• Week of Respect
• Child Assault Prevention
• Violence Prevention Week

Small Group Counseling

Our goal is to work collaboratively with families to facilitate change in the lives of our students. Small group counseling is an opportunity to work with several students on areas of special common concern.

• Groups of about 5 or 6 students
• One session per week for six weeks 
• Each session meets for ~30 to 40 minutes.

Group offerings may vary due to the number of students who are referred to the program.

It is very important that a student be properly placed in a group for the group to work. If you are concerned about a student and none of the proposed groups seem to meet his/her needs, please contact us.

Some students may have more significant needs that go beyond the scope of the school counseling department.  Resources for outside services are always available for families upon request.

Friendship/Social Skills

Goals: To experience positive interaction with others; to learn that each person has special strengths, skills, abilities, feelings, and needs; to learn how our thoughts about ourselves and our abilities influence behavior; to learn how others perceive our behavior; to learn how to pick up on social cues.

Who might benefit? The student may have difficulty “fitting in”, picking up on social cues, making friends, or is new and needs help with adjusting and making friends.

Anger Management/Conflict Resolution

Goals: To develop alternative ways to handle conflict rather than aggression; to learn how others perceive one’s actions; to learn to make decisions based on possible consequences 
of those actions.

Who might benefit? A student with aggressive behavior or lacks self-control.

Self-Concept Group

Goals: To value one’s own special strengths, skills, abilities, feelings, and needs; to learn how a person’s thoughts about themselves influence behavior; to recognize one’s ability to interact with others.

Who might benefit? The child with low self-esteem; the shy, non-assertive child.

Family Change Group

Goals: To identify and clarify students’ feelings and behaviors concerning their family’s change through divorce, separation, or death; to help students gain a realistic picture of the family’s new situation and make effective decisions; to give students the opportunity to learn new communication and coping skills.

Who might benefit?  A child whose family dynamics have shifted. This child may be having difficulty coping with the change or has not had an opportunity to learn necessary coping skills.