Counselor

My name is Ms. Tanya Martinez and I am happy to introduce myself as the School Counselor for the 2026/2027 school year at Wherry Elementary School. I currently see students in grade levels K-5, aiding in each students' personal, social-emotional, and/or academic development. My services include:

• Individual counseling: Brief, solution-focused support for concerns such as anxiety, friendship problems, family changes, grief, behavior, or school adjustment.
• Small-group counseling: Groups focused on topics such as making friends, emotional regulation, coping skills, self-esteem, conflict resolution, or social skills.
• Classroom lessons: Teaching age-appropriate skills such as identifying emotions, problem-solving, empathy, bullying prevention, and responsible decision-making.
• Academic support: Helping students develop organization, study habits, motivation, goal-setting, and strategies for overcoming learning-related challenges.
• Crisis intervention: Supporting students after serious or unexpected events and helping connect them with additional resources when needed.
• Family consultation: Communicating with parents or caregivers about student concerns and helping families identify appropriate resources.
• Teacher collaboration: Working with teachers to address students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.
• Referrals: Connecting students and families with school social workers, mental-health providers, community agencies, or other specialized services when more intensive support is needed.
• Prevention and school-wide programs: Promoting positive school climate, bullying prevention, attendance, inclusion, and students’ overall well-being.

Let's work together to make this school year a successful one!

Visits With the School Counselor

Why Visits Occur

• When a student is very sad, confused, shy, angry, or worried
• When severe changes in a student's behavior occur
• When a student is having difficulty dealing with family changes or situations
• When something seems to be bothering a student to the point of distraction or intense anxiety
• When a student is dealing with the loss of a family member, friend, or pet
• When stressors at home are affecting school performance or self-concept
• When a student is consistently absent from school

Visit Types

Students can meet with the school counselor in a variety of ways. Most commonly, school counselors work with students through:

• One on One Meetings: Student and counselor meet independently to go over any concerns or work on behavior.
• Small Groups: Peer groups of 4-6 students meet to work on character development or group issues.
• Classroom Guidance: Counselor visits classrooms to talk with students about a variety of topics.