The Upper School counselor provides emotional, social, and academic guidance for students in grades 9-12. The request to meet with students can be initiated by their parents, one of their teachers, or the students themselves. The counselor can provide continuous support for students or meet with them on an as-needed basis. Referrals for evaluations, private therapy, and tutoring services can be provided to families upon request. If release of information is granted by the individual families, the counselor may work in conjunction with the students’ outside therapists, doctors, or tutors.

The counselor also works with students on various other levels. The counselor collaborates with the Director of Admissions on the Student Advisory Team. This program provides support for students new to the Walker community and matches them up with current Walker students to help them adjust to the new school. The counselor meets regularly with the Upper School Principal, Academic Dean, and individual students to monitor the Academic Support program. In addition to counseling services, the counselor teaches Introduction to Psychology, Advanced Placement Psychology, and co-facilitates the Peer Leadership program.

Confidentiality

An on-going practice of each counselor is to routinely inform students and parents of the Counseling Office’s policy regarding confidentiality. All communication (verbal and/or written) between student/ family and the counseling staff is held in strict confidence unless confidentiality is first waived by the minor child’s legal guardian. Exceptions to a student and/ or family’s privacy include information regarding danger to self or others or abuse of a child. Legally and ethically, confidentiality must be broken in such instances and all relevant parties notified when, whenever possible, the knowledge of the student. When confidentiality must be breeched and when appropriate students are given the choice to disclose information directly (with the counselor present) or have the counselor do so. Parents are not routinely informed of non-safety issues unless with the student’s invitation.

Release of Information forms are available for families who wish the school counselor to be in communication with a private therapist or doctor.