Our Resources for Supporting Students in Crisis
Mental health and self-care are two hot topics for high school students. In today’s world, all students should have access to mental and emotional support. Read how St. Agnes Academy is supporting students in crisis.
In today's fast-paced and highly digital world, adolescents face numerous challenges that can impact their emotional well-being. From academic pressure to personal struggles, teenagers often find themselves in need of guidance and support.
Many private high schools recognize the significant increase in students' mental health needs and have embraced the role of wellness counselors. For example, St. Agnes Academy has a robust Wellness Department with three full-time counselors dedicated to supporting our students' mental health.
Today, we will explain how our Wellness Counselors offer invaluable support to our students and explore various resources for supporting students in crisis.
Supporting Students in Crisis Starts with Creating a Safe and Confidential Environment
Wellness counselors understand the importance of fostering trust and confidentiality. The mission of the St. Agnes Academy Wellness Department is to create a safe, nonjudgmental, and confidential environment for students as they manage their academic and personal lives at St. Agnes.
Through preventative programming, small group meetings, and individual sessions, we promote the importance of self-care and balance. Our desire is for students and their parents to feel supported, informed, and empowered to seek growth in the wellness of mind, body, and spirit that guides us.
Providing a safe haven for students to express their emotions, concerns, and fears without judgment or repercussion is the best way to make them feel comfortable to open up about struggles and problems.
We Practice Emotional Support and Active Listening
During moments of crisis, adolescents and even adults often feel overwhelmed and isolated. Wellness counselors lend a listening ear and validate their emotions, ensuring students feel heard and understood.
Our counselors are easily accessible to students on campus. They make time to listen to each student’s concerns through scheduled appointments or walk-ins.
We Offer Individualized Counseling Sessions
Our Wellness Counselors tailor their counseling approaches to meet the unique needs of each student. Wellness Counselors are assigned to students alphabetically across grade levels. A student will retain the same counselor throughout their years at St. Agnes Academy.
Our approach allows each student and counselor to develop trust. The result is consistent, ongoing support throughout all four years at our school.
We Take a Collaborative Approach to Counseling
Our Wellness Counselors and Student Support staff members work closely with teachers, administrators, and parents to provide comprehensive support. By collaborating with teachers, counselors gain valuable insight into students' academic progress, allowing them to address any academic-related stressors.
Our counselors often offer grade-level programming dependent upon the needs of the students during that academic year. Some examples of grade-level programming include the following:
- Study skills that support academic performance
- Healthy relationships and boundaries
- Helpful tips for course registration
Similarly, involving parents and guardians enables counselors to develop holistic support plans that encompass all aspects of student life. The St. Agnes Wellness Counselors give parents various resources and opportunities to get involved.
We Provide Critical Resources to Support Crisis Prevention
Each fall, the Wellness Department hosts a selection of speakers to present on important topics surrounding mental health and adolescent development.
We also provide valuable resources on hot-topic issues to our parents through our weekly newsletter. The newsletter creates an opportunity for open communication about the effective management of student life during high school.
Articles like this one on the misuse of prescription ADHD medication or this one on how to keep your teens safe during prom and graduation time were recently shared with our parent community and were received with much gratitude.
Other resources, like this guide on how to recognize and help a student in crisis, helps remind us that all members of a school community have a shared responsibility to create and maintain an atmosphere that encourages learning and growth.
Also, articles like this one on best practices for supporting a child in crisis provide guidance to those who may not have the expertise of a counselor, allowing them to understand how they can best be of help to a student in need.
We Encourage Students to Practice Mindfulness and Self-Care
To promote the practice of mindfulness and self-care among students, our counselors host a Self-Care Fair every year. Students are invited to participate in numerous self-care activities, mindfulness techniques, and calming strategies, like art activities, breathing exercises, and games.
By encouraging healthy coping strategies and self-reflection, counselors empower students to take ownership of their emotional well-being and prevent any disruptive behavior.
Wellness Workshops are also very popular with St. Agnes students. Based on common or relevant themes, the Wellness Department offers group workshops for students to dive deeper into a topic and learn helpful skills. Some past workshop topics have included friendship, anxiety coping skills, and practicing body acceptance.
Find Out More About How St. Agnes Supports Our Students
Our Wellness Counselors serve as compassionate guides, offering a lifeline to students in times of crisis or struggle. They create a safe and confidential space, providing emotional support and active listening.
Our dedicated counselors play a vital role in identifying students in distress. They help our students navigate challenging times or stressful periods during each student’s high school years:
- Tailoring their counseling sessions to individual needs.
- Collaborating with faculty and parents.
- Intervening and supporting students in crisis.
- Promoting mindfulness and self-care.
Are you interested in seeing how our Wellness Department helps nourish resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy individuals? Schedule a visit with our Admissions Office today! We are a welcoming community that will help your daughter thrive in high school.
