Counseling Services

Students receive counseling for a broad range of issues. Some commonly addressed mental health concerns include anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, eating or body image issues, gender or sexual identity issues, substance use, and family or social stressors.

Students who would like to meet with a counselor can send an email to counseling@taftschool.org.

Counselors are available for scheduled appointments Monday-Friday during the school day. There is also always a Taft counselor available on an on-call basis, when school is in session.

If you have immediate mental health needs, please go to the Health Center. The nurse can contact the on-call counselor and offer assistance until a counselor is available.

No, counseling services are included in tuition.

Most information shared in counseling sessions can remain private, including information around breaking school rules (for example, substance use or academic dishonesty). There are limits to confidentiality when there are concerns about a student’s fundamental health and safety, including reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect (past or present), and knowledge of sexual assault, including statutory rape.

Counselors do not typically contact parents when they meet with students. Most students tell parents themselves, although some might choose to keep this private. With a student’s permission, parents are welcome to schedule a conversation with their child’s counselor. Of course, if there are concerns about a student’s fundamental safety, parents will be promptly notified by a counselor or the Health Center.

Counseling services are optional, although parents or faculty may recommend that a student attend counseling if there is a high level of concern around that student’s well-being.

Only those with a medical degree can prescribe medication. This type of provider can include a student’s pediatrician, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, or a psychiatrist. The Counseling Department collaborates with the Health Center to facilitate referrals to outside psychiatric service providers.

A student who has an outside provider can still meet with a Taft counselor for coordination of care and additional support on campus. Even if a student is not meeting with a counselor on campus, school counselors can have confidential conversations with parents or outside providers who have questions about school resources, accommodations or policy.