School-Based Counseling

School-Based Counseling is

• Short-term (typically 6 to 8 weeks),

• Free to parents (paid for by the school system regardless of insurance or Medicaid status), and

• Provided within the school the student attends.

Why short-term? As a school psychologist, we are trained to provide short-term counseling services to students. Sometimes, the need for situational counseling arises and does not warrant long-term therapy. However, if a student shows the need for therapy outside the scope of practice for school psychologists or beyond approximately 8 weeks, they may be referred to licensed (rather than certified) professionals outside of the school setting to continue to work with the student, parent/guardian, and school.

Will there be a cost to parents? No. School psychologists have training in counseling and can provide these services briefly within a school setting. Some school systems have contracts with licensed counselors (LPCs) to enter schools and provide therapy. However, some contracts between the two agencies may inhibit the students able to be seen based on insurance status.

Will it be provided within the school the student attends? Yes. This is the difference between certified (practicing within a school setting) and licensed (practicing outside of the school system) and at this time, I am only certified. Some people may ask what the difference is between school counselors and school psychologists and why they may not be able to provide the service. School counselors are often tasked with other things unrelated to their counseling training and their ratios in Alabama are much higher than is feasible for regular counseling with students. A lot of professionals within the school setting work in tandem to ensure we are doing what we can to help kids be successful. In my experience, this is another difference between licensed professionals coming into the schools and certified professionals. Seeing me was not something to check off their daily schedules; I would work with a student and maintain their confidentiality but collaborate with the administrator, school counselor, and teacher to ensure that the counseling was not a one-stop shop - we tried to carry skills learned through to the learning and academic environment.

“I have had the honor and privilege of knowing and working with Tricia for 12+ years. As a former middle school counselor, I often asked her for guidance when I was “stuck” on how to best assist a student. Many times, this involved students being unable to “get along”. Tricia’s keen insight as to how “students could build a bridge and be mediated” was very much appreciated! Undoubtedly, however, the period that stands out the most in my memory of Tricia’s guidance is when we had a student shot and killed in the hallway at our school. Tricia’s help was invaluable! Not only did she counsel MANY students for months afterwards, she was also available to see school staff as well (which included me!). Her expertise in knowing precisely what to say and to help us deal with our grief and help us be able to get through what happened was greatly appreciated! Her calmness is remarkable and her empathy and caring for others make her a truly wonderful school psychologist!” ~ Melissa B., EdS, School Counseling, Retired Professional School Counselor