Counseling Center

Yes. Parents are encouraged to call with any concerns they have. The school counselors may work with your child on a short-term basis or make referrals to outside agencies when appropriate. The school counselor is also a resource for you regarding developing the best support plan possible.

Any student is free to use the support services offered on campus. While students are encouraged to be open with parents, they do have the choice to see the counselor without your prior knowledge. Depending on the age of the student and/or individual circumstances, counselors will determine what information needs to be communicated with parents. We discuss this with students and come up with a plan that the student is comfortable with. We also ask parents to respect the privacy of students who are not quite ready to share specific concerns at this time.

The Counseling Center makes every effort to see students before school, after school, or during a free period.

No. The school counselor does not share information about your child with any other school.

Visits with the school counselor are private and confidential. We take every measure possible to protect student privacy, while also protecting individual students and the community as a whole. Situations may arise that require information to be shared with designated faculty and/or parents, due to the necessity of serving the best interests of the student and/or the community as a whole. Specific questions about confidentiality should be directed to the counseling center faculty.

The Upper School Peer Support Network is a student organization facilitated by the Counseling Center. The group consists of current sophomores, juniors and seniors. PSN’s purpose is to provide support to their peers, sponsor activities that bring awareness to a variety of relevant issues, and to assist in times of campus or national tragedy.

Who can join?

Any rising sophomore, junior or senior may apply. Applications are made available towards the end of the spring semester each year. Any student who is interested in being a part of PSN must complete the application, two faculty/staff recommendations, and an interview.

As an additional level of support, Baylor’s Middle School also provides a Peer Helpers program. Students with a strength in math or language can volunteer to work with their peers during study hall times, benefiting both the tutor and the student gaining extra help and guidance. Other Peer Helpers may work to create awareness and education concerning issues relevant to our middle school students. In addition, they may build community by reaching out to peers who have been ill for an extended time or are grieving the loss of someone who was close to them.

While it is the school counselors’ responsibility and desire to keep information disclosed by students confidential, the counselors must balance matters of privacy and confidentially with safeguarding the welfare of our students and our school community. When necessary, school counselors may be required to disclose relevant information to the parents and/or authorized employees of Baylor School on a “need-to know” basis only. In the event a disclosure is necessary, the counselors will make every effort to inform the student and/or parent in advance. Any student or parent who has a question with regard to confidentiality should contact Mrs. Kathy Fraley in the upper school or Christy Tomisek in the middle school.