Counseling
Experiencing a crisis?
Please contact one of the following helplines:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- King County local 24/7 Crisis Line (suicide, mental health, substance use): 866-427-4747
(866-4CRISIS) - Crisis Text Line: text “Heal” to 741-741
- Trevor Project (specifically for the LGBTQ+ community): 1-866-488-7386
School Counseling and Mental Health in the Issaquah School District
Issaquah schools provide comprehensive guidance and school counseling services in each building. All students have access to and the right to participate in these programs, which focus on academic, career, and social/emotional development to enhance the learning process, provide access to education, and support student readiness and success. Our school counseling teams plan and implement their programs with consideration for student, family, school, and community members, and can help to connect students and families to resources and supports in our schools and community. Our ultimate goal is to help students obtain the knowledge, skills and attitudes that lead to academic, career, and personal success.
Access Care Solace Services
- 24/7/365 multilingual support – A multilingual team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to help you understand options, call providers on your behalf, and schedule an appointment
- Care regardless of insurance – Connect to care with any coverage including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance.
- Easy access to care – Use Care Match, the self-serve website, to find a provider or services on your own.
- Call 888-515-0595 at any time.
- Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers. Visit www.caresolace.com/issaquah and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Care Solace is NOT an emergency response service or mental health service provider.
For information on Middle School Registration go to the Counseling website.
Cougar Mountain Middle School
Counselor Role
- Advocates and provides free services for all students
- Teaches classroom lessons
- Facilitates small groups
- Provides individual brief solution-focused counseling
- Provides support during personal challenges or crisis
- Teaches coping strategies to regulate emotions
- Consults and collaborates with parents and teachers to remove barriers to learning
- Coordinates VOICE Mentor Program
- Provides learning, behavioral and community resources to students, staff and parents
- Coordinates 504 program for students who may need special accommodations at school due to a disability
- Assist families experiencing homelessness (McKinney -Vento Act)—school support, resources, services for homeless students
- Reports suspected child abuse as a mandated reporter
Counseling Referrals
- Students can self-refer
- Staff or teacher referral
- Administrative referral
- Parent or guardian request
- Request from an outside counselor
*Note that I provide brief solution-focused student check-ins, or short-term Counseling. If your student needs ongoing counseling or therapy services, please contact your Pediatrician for a referral, your insurance company for a list of in-network providers, or visit the district's Community Resource Directory.
Student Support Topics
- Friendship
- Self Concept/Self-Esteem
- Decision Making/Problem Solving
- Goal Setting
- Understanding Others' Perspectives
- Accepting Differences
- Feelings/Emotional Regulation
- Grief/loss
- Transitions
- Career Awareness
- Expected vs. Unexpected Behaviors
- Study Skills/Executive Functioning
- Peer and Family Relationships
- Conflict Resolution
Direct Student Services
Classroom Lessons
The counselor will teach classroom counseling lessons throughout the school year. These lessons include bullying prevention as well as other lessons that support student's social/emotional, academic and career needs.
Small Group Counseling
The counselor can work with small groups of students. Small groups are created based on data that show a common concern, need, or growth area.
Individual Counseling
The counselor will work with students who are self-referred, teacher/staff-referred or parent-referred. Therapy services are not provided, but the counselor will make parents aware of students that may benefit from long-term options.
Please note: the counselor is unable to refer or endorse specific outside counselors or agencies.