Schools (Frequently Asked Questions)

How is Comprehensive School Services different from the counselor my school already has?

Many schools benefit from on-site counseling personnel, and we want to be clear that we do not serve the same function. We have found that such personnel are frequently numerically overwhelmed with students and are in charge of activities such as mass achievement testing, class assignment, recommendation letters and special education referrals, in which we do not participate. Our services focus on training educators to respond to at-risk students and families. We provide consultation and treatment options on-site to the administrators and staff at the school. If you are concerned that your school may already have similar services in place, please let us know and we can discuss your specific situation.

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We already refer our students to other therapists for counseling. How will that fit with Comprehensive School Services?

Many times, schools refer their students for counseling and then never receive any information about how that counseling has progressed. School professionals have become weary of feeling excluded from the counseling process. Comprehensive School Services is committed to helping schools learn the process of ethically communicating with a student's therapist, learning about the goals and progress being made in therapy, and collaborating with the therapist by including appropriate interventions within the classroom. While WCPA does offer private therapy services, a school is always able to refer to any counselor they prefer, and receive assistance from us in order to hold the counseling process accountable for real change.

How do schools pay for these services?

Schools differ in how they choose to fund professional services. Many schools elect to use their Title IV, Safe and Drug-Free Schools funds or Title II, Professional Development funds. As we join with schools and they begin to realize concrete benefits from our services, many choose to fund us directly through their yearly budgets. Smaller schools and private schools sometimes use special funds through their churches or religious orders. Some schools are also using grants and outside funding options. We are always glad to discuss funding options with school administrators.

How are teachers affected by Comprehensive School Services?

Unfortunately, most teachers have not received much training on mental health and behavioral issues during their college programs. We frequently find that teachers are feeling hopeless and angry about the lack of accountability for students, their families, and their outside counselors. We assist teachers, through comprehensive training, consultation, and direct assistance with difficult cases, to respond to the challenging students and families in their classrooms. Teachers begin to feel more hopeful and less “burned out” with their profession. Our greatest achievements have included helping teachers to regain their sense of joy in teaching.