At Rochester Learning Academy, our school counseling program is built around supporting students' emotional, social, and academic growth. We value the importance of connection with each individual student and the belief that every student deserves to feel heard and supported. As a team of two counselors, we work to meet students where they are. This means taking the time to build relationships and trust, understanding the individual needs of each student, and responding appropriately based on their needs.

We support students using a variety of methods, including individual counseling, small group (our SEL class), or in classroom support. We focus on helping students develop problem-solving skills, empathy, self-awareness and build resilience so that they can be successful outside of RLA. We also collaborate with teachers and families to ensure students receive consistent support.

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SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) CLASS

An important part of our counseling program is our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) class. SEL helps promote a positive and respectful community where students feel a sense of belonging. With SEL, students learn a variety of skills including understanding and managing emotions, building positive relationships, healthy coping skills, creating goals and making positive choices.

Classes are often discussion-based, giving students the opportunity to hear different perspectives and practice respectful communication. Lessons are designed around real-life scenarios that they may encounter in and outside of school, so students are able to learn these skills in a way that feels relevant and meaningful.