Counseling Overview
The school counseling program is rooted in the mission of Our Lady of Mercy School - committed to developing the whole person “to reach full potential of mind, body, and spirit”. We are fortunate to have an experienced school counselor, Mrs. Heather Bradley, on our staff, assisting us in fulfilling this mission.
Mrs. Heather Bradley helps to promote Mercy’s mission by ensuring the school counseling program supports the academic, personal, interpersonal and health needs for every student. In terms of academic support, Mrs. Bradley meets with all students whether in the classroom, small group or individually to help connect the realization of effort, resilience and persistence into academic achievement which can in turn lead to future success. Personal and interpersonal development touches upon concepts such as goal setting, conflict resolution as well as friendship building and respectful communication. Healthy practices are a part of the school counseling program to learn self-care and decision-making strategies inside and outside of school.
Heather Bradley is a Certified School Counselor with more than 15 years of teaching/counseling experience working in the Greater Washington, DC area. She earned her Psychology degree at the University of Maryland-College Park and Master of Education in School Counseling at Loyola College in MD. She has worked with students of all ages from Pre-Kindergarten to College level both in private and public school settings in terms of helping each individual develop skills necessary to be successful in school.
Her Approach
Mrs. Bradley’s School Counseling Program is based upon the standards set from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). This approach uses both direct and indirect services to support all stakeholders-students, parents, and teachers in a school setting. Some of the direct services include classroom guidance lessons 1x a month where developmentally appropriate topics are discussed using interactive activities including games, role playing, and engaging books. Counseling groups are based on student needs and include topics such as friendship and social skill building. Responsive services are 1:1 based on needs and are goal oriented in nature. Mrs. Bradley’s indirect services are also key to her approach and include consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, and community members. Parents and school personnel can also reach out to Mrs. Bradley for helpful resources and referrals.
Please contact Mrs. Heather Bradley at hbradley@olom.org