The Watson High School Counseling Department exists in order to assist students and their parents with academics, as well as social/emotional needs. We strive to ensure that each student has the opportunity to experience success while enrolled at WHS. School counselors are certified/licensed educators with a minimum of a master’s degree in school counseling. Crisis Intervention Counselors in the middle and high schools are Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Master Social Workers with clinical experience related to mental health issues. Counselors are vital members of the education team. Our counseling team includes one guidance, and one crisis intervention counselor.
Our students also have access to a wide variety of behavioral specialists, special education counselors, career & technical counselors, and other intervention counselors from each of the other campuses around our district and as needed. We work with students in the following areas:
- Academic concerns
- Graduation requirements
- Career awareness
- Communication skills
- Decision-making, goal-setting, planning and problem solving (conflict resolution)
- Interpersonal relationships
- Social skills
- Motivation to achieve
- Respect for and appreciation of cultural differences
- Responsible behavior
- Safety issues
- Parenting and Pregnancy Related Services
It is important to note that while school counselors can help students through a crisis and provide support on an as-needed basis, they do not provide long-term therapy. School counselors have been trained to identify possible mental health issues and refer parents and students to outside resources when needed.