Support Services

The GA Counseling Department has 5 full time psychologists and counselors serving Lower, Middle, and Upper School students, faculty, staff, and parents.

Committed to the development of resiliency skills and social and emotional growth, the GA counseling staff focuses on psycho-education, consultation, prevention, intervention, treatment, and referrals. Assistance is offered for a wide variety of issues including relationship difficulties, emotional conflicts, friendship and family concerns, time management, conflict resolution, and stress and anxiety reduction. All counseling contacts are confidential. Only in the unlikely event that an individual presents a danger to self or others or is at risk for harm will private information be judiciously shared, and then only in the interest of protection and safety. Parents are always consulted in crisis situations.

Lower School
Middle School
Upper School
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Lower School Support Services

GA counselors consult and observe in the classroom as a routine part of their work addressing social and emotional development and the enhancement of students’ academic experiences. They work with faculty, staff, parents, and students individually and in groups in order to provide professional insight and offer strategies to best meet student needs.

Students may meet individually with the counselor if they, the parent (s), or a teacher make such a request. Following these meetings, Lower School parents will be contacted to discuss the situation. If a crisis occurs, parents will be contacted immediately. If psychological services are needed beyond the scope offered by GA counselors, a referral to professionals in the community will be discussed with parents. In these situations it is recommended that the GA counselor serve as a liaison between home and school to maintain continuity of care. All individual counseling contacts are confidential. Only in the unlikely event that an individual presents a danger to self or others or is at risk for harm will private information be judiciously shared, and then only in the interest of protection and safety.

The Lower School counselor facilitates regular class meetings in all grades, Pre-Kindergarten-5th, promoting pro-social behavior, friendship skills, effective communication, empathy, personal responsibility, and developmentally relevant psycho-education. Social-emotional education is part of the fabric of Lower School life, and the psychologist meets with individual students, with groups, and with entire classes in the service of emotional development. Periodic informational meetings with parents are also offered. Parents are encouraged to contact GA counselors if they have questions or concerns.

Middle School Support Services

The Middle School psychologist coordinates 6th grade Transitions classes and 7th grade Issues classes. These process-oriented programs focus on the development of resiliency skills, pro-social behavior, effective communication, and drug/alcohol risk reduction. The psychologist also sponsors mental health assemblies such as cyber-safety, coordinates psycho-educational testing, and oversees Middle School wellness initiatives.

Peer Counseling

Middle and Upper School students may participate in the Peer Counseling Club. Peer counseling involves training students to help each other with social/emotional concerns. Training involves developing active listening skills, effective communication skills and conflict resolution skills so that students can help others help themselves.

Upper School Support Services

In addition to Support Services, the Upper School counselors coordinate the Freshman Seminar program. These classes are team-taught by a counselor, teacher, and 12th grade student. They meet once per rotation to facilitate the transition from Middle School to Upper School and to address developmental issues of 9th graders. The counselors also coordinate the GA Intervention Network (G.A.I.N. - our student assistance program), sponsor mental health assemblies, coordinate psycho-educational testing, and oversee Upper School wellness initiatives.

Peer Counseling

Disclaimer

The information included in this site is for educational purposes only. This site does not provide psychological diagnosis, treatment, or advice, and should not be used as a substitute for direct contact between an individual and a mental health provider. The opinions expressed by individual authors and site links do not necessarily represent the opinions of Germantown Academy but are provided as a service to those seeking information about psychological issues.

Janet Maurer, Ph.D.
Director of Counseling Services
Germantown Academy
P.O. Box 287
Ft. Washington, PA 19043
267.405.7303