IMPACT Counselor
Mrs. Carrie Dewey, IMPACT Counselor
cdewey@mckinneyisd.net
(Individuals Maximizing Positive Advocacy for Children & Teens)
McKinney North's IMPACT counselor aids students, parents, and staff in enhancing education for students affected by substance abuse, crisis, or atypical behaviors. They create a healthy school environment through counseling, support groups, presentations, prevention activities, student safety planning, and crisis intervention.
The IMPACT Counselor provides the following services:
Crisis Counseling
Group Counseling
Community Referrals
Teaching coping skills with short-term counseling interventions. (max 3 individual sessions with guardian permission))
Community Forums/Workshops
Drug & Alcohol Prevention Education
Parent Education
Staff Development
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is essential in providing the individual with an environment safe to explore feelings and make decisions. Legal and ethical standards of confidentiality require the counseling staff to report appropriately or refer cases of abuse, certain infractions of the Code of Conduct or criminal activity, and students who are a danger to themselves or others. The IMPACT Counselor operates under the Texas Family Code 32.004 which allows the IMPACT Counselor to counsel students dealing with these issues listed below without parental consent:
1. suicide prevention 2. chemical addiction or dependency 3. sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
Limits to Confidentiality
While a student’s conversations with a school counselor must be kept confidential, confidentiality does have its limitations. According to the American School Counselor Association’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors, counselors must “keep the information confidential unless legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed or a breach is required to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to the student” (American School Counselor Association [ASCA], 2010).
Furthermore, all school employees are "mandated reporters". According to Section 261.101(a) of the Texas Family Code, “Any person having cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall immediately make a report.” This law requires any school personnel or school volunteers to make a report of child abuse or neglect. Additionally, the statute specifically requires that professionals such as teachers, nurses, day-care workers, and counselors make a report if they suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or may be abused or neglected. The professional may NOT delegate the duty to report to another person, such as a principal or counselor. They could lose their certificate, face an investigation by Child Protective Services, lose their job, face criminal action, and be sued if they do not report.
"Serious and foreseeable harm" most often includes a student verbalizing the following:
Verbal, Physical or Sexual Abuse
Neglect
A desire to harm him/herself
A desire to harm someone else
An unreported sexual assault
Helpful Family Resources by Topic
Bullying and Cyberbullying:
Teen Depression and Suicide Prevention:
Teen Suicide Prevention-video
How to Recognize the Warning Signs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Suicide Prevention
Self-Injury:
Substance Abuse:
Al-anon Family Support Groups (Effective for family support of any substance misuse)
Treatment options:
Psychology Today. Find a therapist directory. Search psychologists, counselors, treatment centers, support groups, and online therapists with desired filters such as insurance providers. Provides a written summary of practice and guiding philosophy.
Dating Violence:
Internet Safety: