The goal of the Counseling program at McCarthy-Towne is to ensure a successful school experience for students, one in which they develop a positive self-image, the skills to interact productively, and the maturity to make wise decisions. In order to reach that goal, McCarthy-Towne's counselor provides individual and group counseling; consultation to teachers, parents, administrators, and students; an evening parenting course; classroom workshops on specific issues as they arise; and developmentally-appropriate units to foster self-esteem, problem-solving, building friendships, and the like.

Specific whole-class programs include the following:

Fifteen weekly meetings focus on Conflict Resolution in all the second grades;
A few follow-up sessions are given in the fall of third grade to reinforce the Conflict Resolution program;
A six-session puppet program called B.A.B.E.S. (Beginning Alcohol and Addiction Basic Education Studies) is offered toward the end of third grade to build self-esteem and substance abuse prevention/decision-making skills;
The Friends Forever curriculum is provided in fourth grade to build social and problem-solving skills, and to address the issue of hurtful teasing;
Additional teasing prevention lessons are provided in grades 5 and 6;
A program unique to McCarthy-Towne is the 6th grade volunteer program called TCM (Together C.A.S.E. with McCarthy-Towne) in which 6th graders volunteer to work with students in the C.A.S.E. classrooms, which are housed at McCarthy-Towne. With supervision, the students learn an appreciation for people who are different from them and also have an opportunity to give back to their community.

The Counseling program at McCarthy-Towne is ever-changing to meet the needs of the students, staff, parents, and the community as a whole. It has evolved into a mixture of in-class programs plus traditional consultation and direct service to students in small counseling groups. It also provides a place for students to talk if specific issues arise that prevent them from participating fully in the classroom. Each approach is important and serves the McCarthy-Towne community in a different way.