School Counselor

Emotional & Mental Health Support
 

• What I can do: I am here to listen, offer guidance, and provide coping strategies for managing emotions, stress, and general mental health challenges. I can help you explore ways to improve your well-being, build resilience, and develop emotional skills.  
   
• What I can’t do: While I can offer support, I’m not a licensed therapist, and I can’t provide long-term mental health care or intensive therapy. I will recommend outside therapy from a mental health professional who can offer specialized care.
   
• Important Note: If you ever feel overwhelmed or unable to manage your emotions, I will work with you to find the right resources to support you in the long term.

Crisis Management
 

• What I can do: I can help you understand what steps to take if you or someone else is experiencing a crisis. I can provide support and coping mechanisms for managing immediate distress, such as talking through feelings of anxiety or sadness.
   
• What I can’t do: If you are experiencing a crisis that requires immediate attention—such as thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, or a severe mental health issue—I am not equipped to handle this level of intervention online, but I will help connect you to finding the appropriate emergency services.
   
• What happens in a crisis: In case of an emergency, I will connect you to the appropriate emergency services, hotlines, or mental health professionals who can provide immediate, in-person support. It’s important to reach out to these resources as quickly as possible.

Confidentiality Boundaries
 

• What I can do: Your privacy is very important to me. I will keep our conversations confidential whenever possible, and you can feel safe talking about your concerns.
   
• What I can’t do: There are some situations where I am required to break confidentiality, such as if I believe you are in danger of harming yourself or others. I am also required to report certain situations, like if I suspect abuse or neglect. (All SLC staff members follow these guidelines).
   
• Why this matters: These rules are in place to keep you safe and ensure that you get the help you need in potentially dangerous situations. I’ll always talk to you about the need to share information before I do so.
   
• Refer to this confidentiality statement. ALL Summit Learning Charter staff are mandatory reporters.

Virtual Limitations
 

• What I can do: I can offer support through Zoom texts, video calls, or email. These spaces allow us to have conversations and I can still help you navigate challenges, provide coping strategies, and offer guidance on emotional issues.
   
• What I can’t do: As a virtual school counselor, I can’t observe body language or non-verbal cues as well as I could in person. Sometimes, this can make it harder to understand the full extent of what you’re experiencing. 
   
• What this means for you: If I feel that in-person support would be more helpful for you, I’ll help you find an appropriate resource if available or finding ways to develop community around you at home.

Referral Process
 

• What I can do: Connect you with community resources, etc.
   
• What I can't do: Provide therapeutic counseling. If there is a strong concern, it will be recommended to connect with support systems existent at home, community or connecting with the doctor.
   
• What this means for you: Students can anticipate that if the school counselor has increased concern,  I will recommend outside therapy from a mental health professional who can offer specialized care.

Academics, College & Career

• What I can do: Discuss motivation issues regarding classes, talk about college/career resources, help look at resources together, etc.
   
• What I can't do: Do the work for you. Examples: Do your homework for you, Help you apply for FAFSA/ORSAA, etc.
   
• What this means for you: Looking at resources with me to get you the answer you need