Counseling Resources

A Parent/Teacher Conference (P/T Conference) is a meeting with all of the student’s current teachers, the student, the parent(s)/legal guardian(s), administrator, and/or school counselor. It may be requested by the Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s), the student, teacher(s), school counselor, or an administrator.

All P/T Conferences are held on Wednesday mornings at 7:55 am Virtual with Google Meets. Please schedule a week in advance by contacting Fran Tucker at (803) 575-5405 or ftucker@lexrich5.org. Conferences are scheduled in order of request  

If you would like to do a google meets appointment with just one teacher individually, you may do so by contacting that specific teacher directly.

Note: Teachers are usually able to correspond quicker via email than telephone calls due to confidentiality and class schedules. 

To be eligible to receive a School District 5 Extended Studies Diploma, a student must earn 28 units of credit, perform ten hours of community service work each year, and pass the South Carolina High School Exit Exam (HSAP). Students are responsible for annually verifying community service.

Verification forms are available in the School Counseling Office or you can obtain here Extended Studies Community Service Form.pdf   .  These should be submitted annually to the appropriate counselor by May 1 during the 9th, 10th, 11th grade years, and by March 30 during the senior year.

Competitive colleges look for students who have gone above and beyond the minimum requirements. While an Extended Studies Diploma is a local award and does not guarantee college admission, the higher level courses and the extent of commitment required will certainly enhance a student’s profile when applying to college.

The 28 units must be distributed as follows:

English 4 units

Math (including Alg1, Geometry, Alg 2) 4 units

Sciences (lab science) 4 units    

Note:  Physical Science will count for Extended Diploma but it will not count as a lab science for colleges

U.S. History and Constitution 1 unit

Economics ½ unit

S. Government ½ unit

Elective Social Studies 2 units

Foreign Language (same language) 3 units

Physical Education or ROTC 1 unit

Computer Technology 1 unit

CATE or Visual or Performing Art 1 unit

Electives 6 units

The requirement of community service may be met in a variety of ways.  Community service projects will take place at times other than during the school day.  Examples of typical community service projects include such activities as the following: 

• Working with community groups to build homes for families through such groups as Habitat for Humanity

• Volunteering with such groups as Red Cross

• Helping with environmental issues such as Adopt-a- Highway or Keep America Beautiful

• Caring for elderly citizens

• Candy-striping at a hospital

• Working on a clean-up day at an orphanage

• Serving meals with community groups such as Meals on Wheels

• Raising funds to support a community group in such events as Multiple Sclerosis or Cancer Walkathon

• Volunteering at the fire department

• Working with Special Olympics

• Other similar community service projects as approved by the principal or his/her designee.

Students must earn a total of twenty-four (24) units of credit outline here. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Number

1-800-273-8255

Columbia Area Mental Health Child, Adolescent & Families

2715 Colonial Dr. Columbia, SC 29203

(803)898-4777           

*If suicidal or other major crisis, may be able to be seen on emergency basis. Otherwise, we will have to fill out a questionnaire and paperwork and then wait to be seen. It could be a while before given an appointment. 

SC Continuum of Care- Region A: Midlands Office

810 Dutch Square Blvd. , Suite 390

803.737.1610

Serves Aiken, Barnwell, Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster, Lexington, Richland, and York 

The Continuum of Care (COC) serves children with severe and complex emotional or behavioral health challenges through a strength-based and culturally-competent service delivery model. Referrals can be made through school social workers after diagnosis. Must be under 18.

Palmetto Health: Behavioral Care

720 Gracern Rd Suite 120, Columbia, SC

434-4800

434-4813 (hotline) 

24 Hour Inpatient Treatment Ages 5-18 and Partial Hospitalization Program. Free, confidential assessment on inpatient programs, call 1-888-724-7888 or 803-434-4813. 

Irmo Counseling LLC

1180 Columbia Avenue, Suite 203

Mental Health and Counseling Services (803)407-0088.      

Hours: Monday – Friday 8AM – 8PM. 

Services provided include child therapy, adolescent/teen therapy, individual therapy, couple therapy, and family therapy. Counseling services are provided for individuals aged 12 and older. 

Lake Murray Counseling   

7511 St. Andrews Road Suite #1

(803) 781-1003 

Lake Murray Counseling is a Christian organization which combines spiritual therapy with proven counseling techniques. They can be contacted 24 hours a day at the number listed above. 

Crossroads Counseling Center

30A Whiteford Way

(803) 808-1800 ext. 221 

Crossroads counseling offers clinical mental health counseling services for most mental, emotional, and behavioral health disorders. They work with children, adolescents, and adults. They also offer Christian counseling. 

Empower Counseling Services

6334 St. Andrews Rd Suite 104

(803) 767-5652

Catherine W. Harman, MS, LPC/S is a Licensed Professional Counselor, specializing in individual, couples and family therapy. Among her areas of expertise are family of origin issues, depression, anxiety, trauma, work-related and relationship issues. Empower Counseling Services rate is $100 per 50-minute session. She accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, Value Options, Select Health/First Choice, BlueChoice, First Sun EAP, Ceridian EAP, Palmetto EAP, McLaughiin/Young EAP, Magellan EAP, and Value Options EAP. 

Dutch Fork Psychological Services

7313 College Street

(803) 407-7099 

Dr. Bill Haxton and Dr. Nowell Haxton offers a wide range of services including individual, couples, and family therapy, as well as psychological and neuropsychological assessments. They work with children, adolescents, and adults. 

Cole Wellness

3543 Dreher Shoals Rd, Unit 1 & 2

(803) 216-1867

Cole Wellness provides counseling, health coaching, & personal training. 

Counseling Plus

107C Vista Oaks Drive

(803) 727-3882 

Counseling Plus provides services to individuals and families. They specialize in trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, behavioral issues, non-verbal issues, and work with adolescents. They accept Medicaid – select health and first choice, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Tricare Prima, Palmetto EAP, and Tricare Standard. 

Your Friend is Grieving

Tips for Grieving Teens

Development Responses to Grief

The 2023-2024 tutor list can be found here.