Personal and Social Development

The Guidance Office helps students to Identify and respond to the unique personal needs, concerns, problems, attitudes, values, and feelings at the high school level. Below are the following services provided by counselors:

Programs Offered for Parents of Teens With Mental Health Issues

Akron Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology Division offers a series of programs for the parents of children and teens dealing with mental and behavioral health issues.

The one-hour programs will be on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the hospital, One Perkins Square in Akron, as part of the PINES (Parents in Need of Education Services) Project. The programs are free, but a reservation is required. Following the presentations, questions and comments are encouraged

Wednesday October 5 th, 2011
Eating Disorders
This workshop will feature Holly Berchin, Certified Nurse Specialist who will speak on the topic of body image and eating disorders.

Wednesday November 2, 2011
Setting Limits and Self Care
This workshop will feature Diane Papes an art therapist who will speak on the topic of setting limits and self care when dealing with children who have mental health issues.

Wednesday December 7, 2011
Bullying, A look at what happens on the playground today..
Featuring Georgette Constantinou, PhD and Dough Straight LPCC discussing the topic of bullying and its effects.

Conact Sarah Goellnitz to schedule a class at 330-543-8844 or e-mail sgoellnitz@chmca.org.

Technology Safety

Many of us use electronic devices such as cellphones and computer programs through  the day. Often we rely on them for our work and look forward to using them for recreation. What did we do before the cellphone and it’s many instant communication and information abilities?  With all the joys technology has brought to our lives, it has unfortunatley added new dangers and complications. A parents job is harder today than ever. In the ever changing, technological world we live in, please look into these resources below and learn how to keep your family safe online and with the use of technology in general.

General Computer Safety Tips
www.onguardonline.gov

Protect Against Fraud
www.ftc.gov/idtheft
www.staysafteonline.org

Resources to Keep Your Family Safe
www.commonsensemedia.org
www.getnetwise.org
www.connectsafely.org
www.netsmartz.org

Cyber Bullying
www.cyberbully411.org

Resources on Bullying

Bullying is an issue that affects many of all ages all over the world. If you are being bullied you are not alone. Please talk to someone at home, a teacher, school counselor, dean of student or any trusted adult. Reach out and get help. If you are a witness to bullying speak out and don’t be a bystander to injustice and intolerance.  Below you will find some resources you might find helpful. Please talk to Mrs. Knapp in room 236 if you would like to get help or know someone who needs help.

www.cyberbullying.us/
www.netsmartz.org

Loss & Grief

Losing a love oned can be one of the emptiest feelings for a person to deal with. Our students have the opportunity to meet with counselors at any time regarding a loss of a friend or family member. Here are a couple of documents that may help in the healing process:

Individual Counseling

Students have an opportunity to work with counselors regarding their Academic, Career, and Personal Development. In addition, personal & social development provides students an opportunity to talk about their concerns in a confidential and safe place. Counselors only reveal confidential information to parents or Children Social Services if a student is being harmed, harming themselves, or potentially harm others.

Group Counseling

Counselors coordinate a developmental sequence of activities to help students experience peer interaction, share ideas and feelings, develop positive attitudes and values, and deepen an understanding of themselves and their environment. Groups are provided in the fall and spring semesters: Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Divorce, Grief, Death and Dying, Social Skills, etc. Information shared in groups is extremely confidential. Students are told NOT to speak with anyone about the group session. If this is committed, then the student will be asked to leave the group. An average group consists of 6-8 students and requires parent permission. If groups do not consist of this size, then counselors will provide individual counseling to these few students concerned about particular areas in their lives.

24-Hour Hotlines:

  • Akron Child Guidance Center (child and adolescent suicide/crisis)
    330.762.0591
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
    330.253.8181
  • Child Abuse Hotline
    330.379.1880
  • Poison Control Center
    1.800.872.5111
  • Safe Landing Shelter (Summit County)
    Boys - 330.253.7632
    Girls - 330.784.7200
  • Support (suicide/crisis)
    330.434.9144
  • YWCA rape and sexual assault services
    330.434.7273 or 1.800.433.7273

Substance Abuse