school counseling

The RHS School Counseling Department is available to assist students and parents with various concerns from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday - Friday. If you need to contact us, you may do so by calling (864) 355-7804 or by fax at (864) 355-7841. Before calling, please use this website to search for desired information. Thank you for visiting our website!

School Counseling Services

Professional school counselors are trained in both education and counseling, allowing them to function as a facilitator between parents, teachers and students in matters concerning the student's goals, abilities and any areas needing improvement. School Counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today's diverse student populations.

• Individual and small group counseling (short term interventions)

• Crisis intervention counseling

• Conflict resolution and peer facilitation

• Consultation/collaboration

• Referrals to outside services (including mental and physical health)

• Student Advocacy

• Advocate for individual students

• Advocate for positive change in the school and in the district

• Help students learn about college and career opportunities and plan for the future

The Riverside High School Counseling Program supports the mission of Riverside High School: "to prepare students to become confident, competent, ethical individuals and responsible citizens by creating a positive and nurturing school environment where staff, students, parents, and the community work together to promote lifelong learning and to provide opportunities for students to reach their maximum potential."

The RHS Counseling Program contributes to that mission and offers services encouraging EVERY student to achieve optimum personal growth, realize full academic potential, foster positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals, and become lifelong learners and contributing citizens of the world community.

Riverside High School Guidance & Counseling Program Philosophy Statement

American School Counseling Association National Standards

The Riverside High School Counseling Department provides a comprehensive school counseling program that consists of the following components:

1. Guidance Curriculum - Structured developmental experiences presented systematically through classroom and small group instructions.

   • Purpose - student awareness, skill development and skill application

   • Areas Addressed - personal/social development, academic development, career development.

2. Individual Planning - Activities that help all students plan, monitor and manage their own learning as well as their personal and career development.

   • Purpose - student planning and goal setting

   • Areas Addressed - Study skills, academic requirements and opportunities, test requirements and use of test scores, appropriate course selection, lifelong learning

   • Career Planning - Labor Market Information, preparation requirements and opportunities, job options.

3. Responsive Services - Activities that meet the immediate needs and concerns of students.

   • Purpose - prevention and intervention

   • Areas Addressed - Academic concerns (study skills), School-related concerns (tardiness, absences, misconduct, dropouts), Personal concerns (social and family relationships, grief/loss/death, substance abuse, stress)

4. System Support - Management activities that establish, maintain, and enhance the total program.

   • 1. Purpose - program delivery and support

     2. Areas Addressed - Guidance Program Development (Parent Education, Teacher and Administration Consultation, Staff Development for educators, School Improvement planning, Counselor's Professional development, Research and publishing, Community outreach, Public relations)

If You're in a Crisis Now....

If you're in a crisis now, do not hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

• 1-800-273-TALK (8255)    For the hearing impaired, contact the Lifeline by TTY: 1-800-799-4889

• To chat online with a Crisis Counselor through the National Suicide Prevention Website

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/