Counseling Program and Services

Our counselors provide confidential, student-centered, short-term and goal-oriented counseling to students. The counselors address students’ concerns and work with them individually to meet their needs. During counseling sessions, students will work with a School counselor to gain insights and develop skills while finding solutions to problems through conversation and practice. The specifics of each session will depend on individual student goals, any issues they may be facing, their comfort level with communication, their current life circumstances, and the general approach agreed upon with the School counselor.

At The Pennington School, we prioritize the confidentiality of our students' health-related information. We understand that students require a safe space to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, without fear of others divulging such information during counseling. Hence, we are committed to protecting the privacy of every student we engage with to the best of our ability.

Exceptions to confidentiality:

1. A student reveals a ​plan to cause serious harm or death to themself or to someone else​.

2. ​It is revealed or apparent that a child is being neglected or abused—physically, sexually or emotionally​—or has been neglected or abused in the past.

3. ​If it is revealed that a student has been a victim of sexual assault​.

4. We are ​ordered by a court ​to disclose information.

5. When there is concern about a student’s ability to function academically, emotionally, physically, and/or mentally within the School environment.​

For more information and questions about the limits of confidentiality, you can always ask your School counselor about types of information we would need to disclose.

School counselors will make referrals to outside professionals if it is determined that a student would benefit from additional support. Counselors can assist parents in finding providers and collaborating with them to provide ongoing support to the student. Our counseling team can share with families the names of clinicians who contract independently for counseling. 

Panaptic is a comprehensive online program designed to educate students about the dangers of marijuana and its electronic delivery. The course consists of eight sessions and is targeted towards students in Grades 9 and 10. It was created by two clinical psychologists with extensive experience in addiction medicine and research.

Through the Panaptic program, students will learn about the short- and long-term risks associated with marijuana and nicotine use, including their impact on emotional and social health, physical health, and academic performance. The program also includes modules for parents, which focus on the science behind marijuana and vaping, as well as how they can have productive conversations with their children about drug and electronic delivery prevention.

In addition to Panaptic, students will also explore the relationship between alcohol and drug use and other health risks such as unintentional injuries, violence, suicide, and high-risk sexual behaviors as part of the drug and alcohol prevention section of the Health curriculum.

The Counseling Center offers confidential counseling services to students who use substances. However, if there is a suggestion for additional evaluation or a requirement for specialized care, it is recommended that students/parents follow that advice.

Students Suspected of Substance Use

If there is reason to suspect that a student is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, they will be escorted to the Health Center for further assessment.

The #WinAtSocial Program at The Pennington School is provided by The Social Institute, a leader in engaging, student-led lessons related to social-emotional health, social media use, and technology. Its positive, high-character, gamified approach was created with student leaders and researchers across the country. Lessons engage students with relevant, student-led discussions that encourage them to open up about their challenges related to these issues. The lessons occur in advisory, health classes, and grade-level meetings. Each lesson is geared to a specific grade in order to maximize relevancy and student buy-in. All advisors have been trained to facilitate both the curricular lessons and monthly live lessons that are tied to current events regarding technology. 

Whether or not your child uses social media or a device of their own, we hope that you will consider how these free resources outlined below could be useful to your family.

These supplementary resources provide insight into social media, technology, and student experiences, offering family discussion prompts and informative resources that you can incorporate into family conversations as much or as little as you like. As students experience #WinAtSocial, Family Huddle questions may be added to Pennington Postings emails as a supplement to a lesson. These are completely optional to run as a family! Take time to register your free account for the Parent Toolkit. Information about the Parent Toolkit is available at the start of school each September, or you can contact Lisa Houston, director of advisory and student activities, for more information. 

What is counseling?

There is a misperception that counseling is only for individuals experiencing severe mental health issues. However, at some point in their lives, most people can benefit from receiving support from a counselor. Counseling allows students to have one-on-one conversations with a trained professional about a wide range of concerns and develop strategies for coping or working through them.

How often will I meet with a counselor?

The frequency and duration of counseling will be jointly determined by the student and their counselor, and may vary according to the student's needs. Some students may meet with a counselor one or two times, while others may meet monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly.

What kinds of things do students talk about with counselors?

The counselors understand that being a student can be challenging. They provide support to any student seeking help. While talking to friends, family, and teachers can be helpful, sometimes students can benefit from speaking to a trained professional in a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment. Students can talk about any concern with a counselor, including academic performance, anxiety, depression, substance use, sexual assault, and more.

Who will know if I'm seeing a counselor?

In most cases, no one will be notified that a student is meeting with a counselor. Counselors are committed to protecting students' privacy within the limits of safety and the law. Parents/guardians will not be contacted unless a counselor has significant concerns about a student's well-being. In those cases, the student will be informed that the counselor is reaching out to the parent. The counselors will not divulge confidential information without the student's permission.