Q: What's the difference between counselors, school social workers, etc.?
A: While everyone in the counseling department serves the same general purpose--supporting students--that happens in a variety of different ways, according to our roles. Counselors are mainly academic, whereas social workers & mental health providers are more focused on mental health. You can always come to talk to whoever you are most comfortable with, and if they don't know how to address your concern, they'll direct you to the person who does. In general:
Counselors handle things like schedule changes, Section 504 plans, and planning for college;
Social workers help students who may be in crisis, need support with a specific mental health issue, or help accessing resources/services (such as help paying fees, getting set up with a therapist, etc.);
School psychologists work with students in Special Education who have IEPs, especially when that overlaps with mental health;
The family liaison is a bilingual, general support person who can help with things like communicating with teachers and accessing community resources;
The registrar handles enrollments/transcripts, and post-grad specialists help with finding and applying to colleges and scholarships, or finding post-graduation work opportunities.
Q: Do I need an appointment? How do I check in with someone in the counseling office?
A: At LHS, appointments are never required to meet with someone in the counseling office; however, if you're more comfortable having a scheduled time to come in, you can set that up using that staff member's Calendly page, or via email/phone (see the About Us page for more info). Because of the nature of high school, sometimes appointments may change or be rescheduled due to emergencies or other conflicts; you can check in with Ms. Rachel at the counseling desk if someone isn't where you expect them to be. We do ask all students to check-in using the ipad kiosks when they visit the office. This helps us stay of aware of who is in our office throughout the day. This also allows our mental health team to receive notifications about students in need of more urgent support.
Q: Where do I find the person I'm looking for?
A: All of the counselors, the post-grad counselor, school social workers, and family liaison are located in the Counseling Department. The school psychologists' offices are located in the library.
Q: What should I do if I'm worried about someone's mental health or physical safety?
A: In true emergencies, such as if someone is already injured or is actively being hurt, it is always best to call 911. If the concern is high enough to need quick intervention, but not an immediate danger requiring emergency response, such as threats made online or if you want to request a welfare check, the next best option is to call LPS' Security office, which is open 24/7, 365 days a year, at 303-347-3420, or report the concern to Safe2Tell (1-877-542-7233, or www.safe2tell.org). If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis, you can call the national suicide hotline at 988 or contact Colorado Crisis Services. For more hotline options and additional resources, visit our Mental Health Resources page for a comprehensive selection.
If you aren't sure what to do or how concerned to be, the LPS Security Office or Safe2Tell can help make that decision for you once you pass along all of the information you have. Click HERE to learn more on LPS' District Website.