Bria Elfors

Determined future school counselor with enthusiasm for helping students with academic achievement, college and career readiness, and socio-emotional development for optimum well-being and success. Talented in meeting the objectives of the American School Counseling Association's National Model by providing direct and indirect services to students through preventive education, interventions, advocacy, mediation, and counseling to students. Sensitive to socioeconomic and cultural differences between students and their families and passionate about making a difference in the lives of students and the community.

• Kindergarten Classroom Reading Mentor and Volunteer. August 2019-March 2020, August 2021-May 2022. Worked one-on-one with students to help them learn letters, sounds, numbers, and reading. Fostered a sense of self confidence in struggling learners by celebrating incremental improvements, incorporated differentiated instruction techniques to meet the need of each student, and coordinated with the teacher to provide consistent support to reinforce reading skills in the classroom. Helped organize and plan classroom parties.
• Second Grade Classroom, Reading Specialist Volunteer, August 2021-May 2022, Worked one-on-one with second grade students to help with their reading skills and help them develop their reading fluency and words per minute read. Collaborated with the teacher to identify struggling readers and create targeted interventions, provided constructive feedback on student performance while highlighting areas of improvement and celebrating successes, and organized engaging activities that encouraged active participation in the reading process.
• First Grade Circus, Volunteer, February 2022-May 2022, February 2023-May 2023. Helped organize and facilitate the first grade circus event for two years, which is a voluntary performance that first graders do every year in our community. The event is all put together by parents of the first graders. Supported and helped plan dances, talents, costumes and decorations for the event. Collaborated with additional volunteers to ensure a smooth event.
• Stake Primary Presidency Member, February 2021-Present. I work in a presidency with three other women. We go to different branches together in our stake and evaluate the needs of the children, ages 7-11 in our stake. We see many cultural and socioeconomic issues with these children and we give direction and resources to their leaders on how to proceed helping them. We also plan activities every month for each branch and visit their church meetings monthly to build relationships with the children and their families so we can assist them with their needs. We plan yearly summer camps for the children to attend to help them learn, grow, and provide support to them. We have over 400 children attend these activities and events. As the secretary, I coordinate schedules, agendas, meetings, construct flyers, and carry out needs assessments throughout the stake to plan activities that will benefit the children and families. Recently, we held a literacy night to provide extra reading support to any children in the stake.
• Fourth Grade Math Mentor, August 2023- Present. Work one-on-one with students to help them with their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Use differentiated instruction techniques with each student, help them make SMART goals, celebrate successes, highlight areas of improvement, and collaborate with teacher to ensure students are on track.

• Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences Early Trauma Online Learning Certification
• CPR certified

• COUN 5004, Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors, Examined theories of lifespan development and behavior from a counseling perspective. Learned how to apply counseling theories and practices to diverse clientele.
• COUN 5336, Counseling and Advocacy with Diverse Populations, Analyzed counseling theories and evidence-based practices that emphasize the relevance of multicultural counseling and advocacy roles of counselors.
• COUN 5280, Introduction to School Counseling, Examined the history and development of school counseling. Investigated legal and ethical requirements of school counselors. Explored the ASCA National Model and service delivery systems, including specific programs and interventions and analyzed the multiple roles of collaboration with all stakeholders. Learned how to analyze IEPs, 504 plans, FBAs, and BIPs.
• COUN 5217, Ethical and Legal Issues in Professional Counseling, Evaluated current legal and ethical guidelines as set forth by the ASCA Legal and Ethical Standards for School Counselors. Learned how to apply relevant decision-making models when faced with an ethical issue while working with students and parents. Learned about FERPA Laws, informed consent, and confidentiality.
• COUN 5812, Theories of Counseling with Children and Adolescents, Learned how to apply evidence-based theoretical approaches and interventions relevant to school counseling. Analyzed the influence of biopsychosocial factors on child and adolescent development. Designed individualized interventions that promote wellness and resilience.
• COUN 5279, Life Planning and Career Development, Learned theoretical models applicable to career counseling and development as they relate to students' interests, aptitudes, personalities, and traits. Learned career counseling assessments, techniques, and strategies.
• COUN 5420, Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Learned common characteristics, risk factors, and warning signs of mental health and behavioral disorders among children and adolescents. Learned to evaluate diagnostic models, methods, and approaches and explored DSM classifications. Investigated impacts of common medications on learning, behavior, and mood in children and adolescents.
• COUN 5106, Assessments, Tests, and Measures, Learned to examine the assessment process and how tests and measures are used in counseling. Learned the evolution of assessment methods, testing strategies and interpretation, and fundamental measurement constructs.
• COUN-R 5861, The Counseling Relationship: Concepts and Skills, This course included a 5-day, face-to-face Residency in Orlando, Florida. Learned to analyze, develop, and demonstrate counseling skills and concepts including open-ended questions, paraphrasing, and reflection of feelings.
• COUN 5241, Group Counseling and Psychotherapy, Learned theoretical components of groups, group dynamics and process, leadership, membership roles, ethical awareness, and crisis management in relation to groups. This class required live zoom group sessions where we took turns being the group leader and discussing specific subjects.
• COUN 5238, Crisis Assessment and Intervention, Learned crisis intervention and emergency management models and strategies used in the counseling field. Learned how to work with situational crises, assessing suicide and other risks, and supporting the implementation of an emergency management plan.
• COUN 5422, Counseling for College and Career Readiness, Learned models of P-12 comprehensive career development. Learned to evaluate developmentally appropriate interventions and assessments that enhance career readiness, improve graduation rates, and promote equity in student achievement and college access.
• COUN-R 5863, The Advanced Counseling Relationship: Concepts, Skills, and Approaches. This course included a five day, face-to-face Residency in Greensboro, NC, where we built upon our skills learned at the first Residency to add theory. We analyzed, developed, and demonstrated advanced counseling concepts, skills, and approaches. Learned reflection of meaning, summarizing, challenging skills, assessment and goal setting, change techniques, and intervention and action.
• COUN 5007, Research Methods for the Counseling Professions- In Progress, will finish June 2024
• COUN 5284, School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation- In Progress, will finish June 2024