School Based Counseling Services
Children are at a higher risk- now more than ever- of growing up well before their time and experiencing mental trauma as a result. The environment they are raised in, financial status, lack of stability in housing, abrupt (and even planned) changes of environment and exposure to harmful and traumatic situations could result in a child experiencing major mental health breaks. Some examples of these include depression, PTSD, disassociation and other mental health disorders. These students are in need of school based counseling services.
As technology continues to advance at a high capacity, youth are constantly present on social media, active on their cell phones and using the internet- often without parental or adult guidance. While these advancements have been helpful in many ways, they have also contributed to many serious issues, including cyber bullying. Some severe instances of cyber bullying have even led to suicide. Also, early exposure to adult and inappropriate content could set off behavioral and emotional problems in children. This is where school based counseling services can be an incredibly useful tool in educational institutions.
It’s of great importance and the responsibility of educators and parents alike to ensure that the mental health and wellness of children is intact as they grow. The minds of adults are vulnerable to trauma. Consider how much more vulnerable the mind of a child is. Being a victim of abuse (including bullying), witnessing trauma and the natural stressors of growing up all can take a toll on the mental health of a child or teen. Children that experience trauma and do not seek- or are offered- professional counseling when they are young run an increased risk of growing up to struggle with drugs, alcohol and making poor lifestyle choices.
School based counseling and other school based mental wellness services provides your learning institution a major advantage to its students. Whether in an individualized or group setting, counseling services that are offered on site provide students with a safe place in which they can neutrally express their feelings and emotions. Especially in the pre-teen and teenage years, raging hormones, changing bodies and interpersonal relationships can cause a ton of stress. Current events that highlight school and other mass shootings, bombings and traumatic incidents can be major stressors. Personal emotional losses, like losing a classmate or schoolmate can trigger emotional and mental breaks for students as well.
Offering children, the flexibility to vent to someone they won’t feel judgment from can be a significant positive contribution toward the stability of their mental health. Having trauma and crisis counseling available for your students helps ensure they can confidentially and easily confide in someone about their feelings, and find positive ways to cope.
