Counseling

Mission and Vision

AHA Counseling Mission

The Professional School Counselors at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School are dedicated to provide a comprehensive school counseling program to ensure personal/social, academic, and career development. We strive to provide a safe learning environment committed to achievement, high standards, accountability through collaboration with administration, parents, and community members so all students succeed as productive members of society.

AHA Counseling Vision

The vision of the AHA School Counseling program is to empower all students to reach their fullest potential through academic, personal/social, and career goals. We seek to promote a holistic approach to overcoming barriers by addressing school, home and community issues for the enrichment of the individual student. We honor diversity and effectively use empathy and encouragement to maintain cultural awareness of self and others.

How Your Counselor Can Support You

Counselors can provide support in the following domains:

Academic Development

• Failing grades
• Studying/ test taking strategies
• Trouble in class
• Post-secondary selection
• Test score reviews

Career Development

• Career awareness/exploration
• Interest inventories

Personal/Social Development

• Self-harming behaviors
• Problems at home
• Peer conflicts
• Self-esteem
• Anger management
• Substance use concerns

Student Rights

Confidentiality

Information discussed with the counselor is private unless the information needs to be shared to prevent danger to the student or others. If information needs to be shared, the counselor will make every effort to let you know of the appropriate source (s) that need to be contacted. This may be a parent/guardian, administrative personnel, protective services, or law enforcement. Other shared information includes court subpoenas and communication with other professionals to better support you. Our primary responsibility is to our students, but we also acknowledge parents rights to be informed.

Benefits

Your counselor may assist you with an increased understanding of the issue (s) that have been brought to the counseling office. You may also feel better having discussed the issue (s) with someone who can help resolve your concern.

Risks

We want to help you, but there are no guarantees in counseling. You may feel some anxiety discussing certain issues with your counselor. This can be caused due to challenging your thoughts/ feelings in ways that may be uncomfortable, or new to you.