Counseling

meet OUR COUNSELOR

Hello Canyon View families,

My name is Rola Murtada and I am the Elementary Resource Counselor (ERC) at Canyon View Elementary. I graduated from Al-Ahlia Amman University-Jordan with a B.S. in Finance, I later decided to change my career path and earned a M.S. degree in Educational Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential, concentration in School and Family based Counseling from University of La Verne. I’m also an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC).

I’m a mother of two IUSD students, and my family relocated from Jordan to USA in 2014. So, I have a great understanding of how hard adjustments can be. We are a very social family, we spend our weekends socializing with family & friends. I love going to the beach and travelling. I visited many places like Syria, Lebanon, Paris, London, Swansea, Okinawa- Japan, Dubai, Cyprus, Hawaii, Istanbul and Antalya -Turkey.

The best way to contact me is by email: rolamurtada@iusd.org, as most of my time is spent with direct student contact. I’ll do my best to return phone calls as soon as possible. My number is: (949)936-6927.

I am passionate to work with students and help them thrive. Please utilize me as a resource. I am here for you!

the role of our counselor

The role of an Elementary Resource Counselor (ERC) is to provide students and families with skills to enhance positive behavior and mental health and wellness and ensure students are well-equipped with social/emotional coping skills to manage a healthy state of mind despite the varying challenges in life. Our ERC will collaborate with all stakeholders to provide a proactive, and developmentally appropriate data-informed counseling program to support student's academic, and social/emotional needs.

Counseling can help students learn how to identify causes of stress, advocate for themselves in asking for help and expressing emotions, improve problem-solving skills, improve social skills and enhance their self-esteem.

Please contact our ERC if there’s a big change in your life that might affect your student, or if they feel stressed, anxious, lonely or unsafe. Or if they just need someone to listen to something important. If you would like information, resources or support with non-emergency mental health, please check our webpage: https://canyonview.iusd.org/about/counseling

what is social-emotional learning (sel)?

In a world where emotional intelligence is critical for lifelong happiness, successful careers, and healthier relationships, social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults can better understand, manage, and express emotions and empathy, develop positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL curricula teach children techniques that help them gain confidence, set and achieve positive goals, collaborate well, and navigate the world more effectively—adding a highly valuable dimension to education in the classroom. (CASEL, “What is SEL?”)

second step program

The Second Step program teaches SEL skills in the following four areas:

Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and assertiveness when asking for help with schoolwork.
Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’ feelings, ways to understand another’s perspective, and how to show compassion.
Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong feelings, such as worry or anger.
Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way.

Our Guidance Assistant (GA) provides classroom lessons from the evidence-based Second Step program, and supports students with additional opportunities to practice these skills in a small group setting. With parent permission, small group services are provided during the school day, for approximately 30 minutes, weekly. Every effort will be made to minimize the loss of important instructional time.

School-Based counseling program

The Elementary Resource Counseling program is designed to provide opportunities for students to participate in individual and small group counseling experiences that provide support and skill building for coping with family stressors, academic struggles, and personal issues. It is not unusual for students to need focused help to strengthen their social-emotional skills in order to be more learning ready during different times in their childhood. Many children struggle from time to time with a range of family and life circumstances (divorce, loss, stress) that make coming to school more difficult, and we are here to offer tools and support. Small group and individual counseling can be an excellent way for students to learn new skills, develop self-confidence, adjust behaviors, and learn to deal with challenges in healthy ways.

Services are provided during the school day for approximately 30 minutes. These services are free of charge and voluntary. Every effort will be made to minimize the loss of important instructional time. School- based counseling is short-term and typically ends after 8-10 weeks. Parent permission required. Please Note: Information shared by your child in counseling sessions will be kept confidential unless there is an indication that your child is in danger of hurting himself/herself or others, that someone may be hurting your child.

parent Resources

Please find articles related to your child's wellbeing and social and emotional development listed here.

If you are in need of emergency services please contact 911 or one of the emergency resources below:

Irvine Police Department: (949) 724-7000 (non-emergency line)
OC Links: (855) 625-4657
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Assessment Team (mobile county team): (866) 830-6011
California Youth Crisis Line: 1-800-843-5200
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741714
Didi Hirsch Mental Health 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-877-727-4747
211OC (Free or low cost health and human service programs): 1-888-600-4357

Community Resources

Children’s Support and Parenting Program (CSPP) Services:
Psychoeducation groups for parents and caregivers with school-aged children.
(714) 480-4678 | www.ochealthinfo.com

The Prevention Center Services:
Parenting programs including parenting workshops, helping kids cope through divorce, and parenting resources.
(714) 543-4333 | www.BrightFutures4Kids.org

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Center:
Santa Ana Services: Crisis line, outreach and survivor support services for family members of a person who committed suicide.
(714) 547-0855 | www.didihirsch.org/orange-county

OCHCA Behavioral Health Services
Behavioral Health Services provides programs available to Orange County residents seeking mental health and substance use treatment.
(714) 834-2077 | www.ochealthinfo.com/bhs/services

Greater Good Science Center – UC Berkeley
Uses scientific measures to study the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.
www.greatergood.berkeley.edu

Community Mental Health Resources:
A brochure with resources on Substance Abuse, LGBTQIA Services, Shelters, Hotlines & Online Resources, Culturally Centered Services, Parenting Resources, Community Resources, Intensive Mental Health Services, Suicide Prevention, Housing Resources, and Legal Resources

District resources

Mental Health/Wellness Services and Resources:
The District provides school-based mental health/ wellness services and resources www.iusd.org/WeCare or https://iusd.org/department/mental-health-wellness to students and families. These services include short-term individual or group counseling for students at the school site; short-term, solution-focused therapy for students and families through the Irvine Family Resource Center; and resource linkages to community-based mental health or social services for students and families. Services are provided by counselors or licensed mental health professionals.

IUSD Family Counseling Services:
Short-term, solution-focused individual and family therapy, resource linkage and referrals, and parent education/support groups to IUSD families K-12 (949) 936-8775. https://iusd.org/about/departments/education-services/student-support-services/mental-health-and-wellness/irvine