Counseling

Counseling Appointments

Student Only Counselor Appointment Request

Students are encouraged to use office drop in times for quick questions and paperwork drop off.

Parent requests for meetings:

Please email the correct counselor directly, with details about your reason for requesting a meeting.

Counseling Office Staff

Counselors are assigned by student last name, click the arrows below to view contact information.

Registrar & Counseling Secretary

Stefa Chow: ML & FLEX Students

Christina Hunsberger: P-Sh & IC Students

Hannah Harrison: Social Worker

Brenda Dean: School Psychologist

Huong (Helen) Thai: Data Processor

Welcome to the Juanita HS Counseling Center!

The Juanita High Counselors are educators uniquely trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self-management and social skills who understand and promote success for today’s diverse students. We provide support to students during times of transition, heightened stress, critical challenge, or other situations impeding student success.

Additionally, we work with students to explore future plans and prepare for those future plans emotionally, academically and socially.

The Juanita Counseling Team also works with families and students to provide support in the realms of basic needs, mental health resources, academic success, and personal growth.

Please make sure to get to know our site as we have provided a significant amount of information on a variety of topics. This helps counselors prioritize school hours to meet with their students.

Counseling Office Phone Number: 425.936.1680 * JHS SEEB code: 480543

Please note: JHS does not take responsibility for the contents of any of the websites linked from this site. Please use caution when leaving this site.

Know Where to Go!

Know where to go

Please visit the FAQ tabs on each page to see if your question is there!

Please understand it is vital, the more you can use our site to find information the more time counselors have to meet with their students!

Questions about College/Universities, scholarships, financial aid, and the college application process:

Please visit the College & Career Center (CCC) page or in person for students

Need a Letter of Rec or Materials for your college Application?

choose the 4 year college tab here

Questions or concerns about a class or grade:

Please communicate directly with teachers via email, or in person student to teacher conversations.

Please make sure you look through the tabs on this site as you will find information about:

Requesting Transcripts

Graduation Planning

New Student Enrollment

Community Resources

Out of District Credit and Appendices

Department Info

What do counselors do?

School Counselors wear many hats. They serve to help remove barriers for students to help support them academically.

Counselors work in the three domains of:

Academics

Social Emotional

Post High School

School Counselors will deliver classroom lessons, individual counseling short term, provide small group counseling, responsive services, makes referrals to outside agencies and crisis interventions. They will also work with parents, teachers, and students to help make their year successful

Responsive Services:

Meeting immediate needs and concerns of students.

Support in crisis situations (self harm, suicidal or thoughts of harm)

Consultation and collaboration with staff, families, and specialists.

Academic

On Time Graduation

Goal setting

Overall Academic Wellness

Social & Emotional

Building Self-Esteem

Coping Skills

Bereavement & Grief

Anger Management

Problem Solving Skills

Strengths and Resiliency

Conflict Resolution

Post High School Exploration

Explore interests and skills

Awareness of college & career options

Development of life skills

What is the scope of the Counseling Dept?

The primary focus of the School Counselor is to help students be ready to learn. Focusing on academic development, personal/social development, career awareness and exploration.

Within our Scope:

Social/Emotional Issues

Crisis Situations

Overall Academic Wellness

On Time Graduation

Post High School Options (big picture)

Basic Needs Support

Outside our scope:

Non Enrolled AP Courses or Testing

Scheduling

Study Abroad Programs

Modifying Grades or Transcripts

What is meant by On Time Graduation advising?

It is the focus of Juanita and LWSD that students graduate on time. Counseling advising on this looks like finding solutions to missing credits or requirements, plans for grade remediation and graduation pathway planning

Due to on time graduation being a priority of the school and district, capacity for the counselors to advise on outside programs, tests and/or course acceleration maybe limited or unavailable.

When is it appropriate to contact my student's School Counselor?

Parents and guardians are encouraged to support their students in being self advocates.

With that said contact your student's School Counselor with questions or concerns regarding issues that may be affecting your child’s overall school academic progress or ability to graduate on time.

Such topics could include family changes, social difficulties, or mental health problems.

If there is a concern with a specific grade or class, students and families are directed to contact the teacher directly.

How can parents help?

How can families support the work we are doing in schools?

Encourage school/life balance
Encourage scheduled time to unplug
Support your student being advocates for themselves
Work with your student on organization methods and time management strategies.
Implement "Brain Breaks" during study time
Help them with strategies on acknowledging that sometimes things can be really hard, but that is ok!
Take care of your mind and body!
Teach and encourage the importance of attendance and arriving to class and appointments on time
We encourage you to have frequent conversations about difficult topics.
Work with your student on what are appropriate forms of formal communication vs casual communication.
Find ways to incorporate patience in daily life.
Both you and your student establishing a frequent routine of checking Skyward for grades.
Find a way to establish a distraction-free zone for studying
Encourage and establish perspective when students are involved in social media.

More!

Social Emotional FAQs

Social/Emotional Questions

What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?

Social-emotional learning (SEL) refers to the process of developing and applying skills that help individuals understand and manage their emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. It encompasses five core components: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

How is a School Counselor different from a therapist?

Are School Counselors available to assist students with grief or trauma?

How can parents support SEL learning at home?

Helping your student with the following concepts:

Self-awareness

Encouraging them to develop an understanding of their emotions in various situations, understanding their strengths and weaknesses and understanding the relationship between thoughts and actions.

Self-management

Model and encourage your student on how to navigate challenge and discomfort and the emotions that come with that. Remind them it is ok to be uncomfortable and challenged. We are humans, and no one is perfect at everything.

Responsible Decision Making

Teaching your student and reinforcing the concept about cause and effect of their actions and decisions. Also helping them understand that consequences are a part of life and will happen when irresponsible decisions are made.

Fostering Empathy

Helping your student understand how to interact with others through an empathic lens. Also modeling how to interact with others in a civil manner especially when there is conflict.