My name is Mrs. Melissa Carathers, and I am the DEMS School Counselor. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with your child this year. Please let me know if I can assist you or your child as the school year progresses.
Your child will get to know me best during elementary classroom guidance lessons, which are held on Fridays on a rotating schedule. Lesson topics covered during this time may include; feeling (ZONES of Regulation), coping skills, life changes, relationship skills and healthy choices. The State mandates that substance use prevention and personal safety lessons are covered. We choose to use the HOPE Curriculum for substance use prevention and Educate to Protect for personal safety. Information about these programs will be sent home prior to the lessons.
I am also available for short term individual counseling and small group counseling services. Areas of concern may be academic and/or non-academic, such as friend problems, family changes, grief, organization skills and stress. Referrals for an individual consultation and/or group counseling may be made by parents/guardians and/or teachers. If you have a concern or question, please feel free to contact me by phone at 330-828-2405 or email at mcarathers@daltonlocal.org.
Other Resources Used
We are fortunate to also have clinical counselor, Mrs. Ann Dennison, LPCC, from The Counseling Center as a resource for our families. Her services are only available through a referral from a school administrator, school counselor, and/or the CARE Team. Her areas of speciality include clinical individual counseling to address things like anxiety, depression, ADHD, oppositional behaviors, trauma and any other mental health concerns.