Student Wellness

SFIS Counseling Center

SFIS COUNSELING CENTER SERVICES                                                                                           (505)216-7418
The SFIS Counseling Center has licensed clinical counselors on campus to support all high and middle school students. We utilize a holistic wellness framework that honors the whole person and the profound influence of the family system on the adolescent. Our services embrace the SFIS Core Value of Acceptance (inclusive of diversity) and are provided in a trauma informed and culturally sensitive manner.
Staff are available Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Fridays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The counseling offices are located in the High School Dormitory, Middle School Dormitory and the School Health Center.
The Counseling Center provides the following services:
• Drop-In counseling available Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm in School Health Center
• Short term (8-12 sessions) of Individual, group or family therapy
• Common issues treated include anxiety and depression, substance abuse, grief/loss, life transitions, trauma, ADHD, suicidal ideation and self-harm, family stress, peer relationship problems
• Provide community referrals and resources as needed for additional student and family support
• Telehealth family therapy sessions

SFIS Counseling Center does submit claims to Medicaid and other third-party Managed Care Organizations to reimburse our providers for services rendered. We do not bill for or collect co-payments. Our services will be provided regardless of a student’s ability to pay for services and no out of pocket costs are ever collected.

CONSENT FOR TREATMENT
Clients 14 years of age and older have the legal right to consent to and receive mental health services without the consent of a legal guardian. However, SFIS believes that parental or guardian involvement in therapy and other services, when possible, is an integral part of an effective process. Therefore, it is our practice to request an agreement with a child between 14 and 18 years of age and their legal guardian that we be able to share general information about the progress of the child’s treatment and their attendance at scheduled sessions. Any other communication will require the child’s authorization. Legal guardians have the right to review records of children under 14 years of age unless SFIS decides that such access is likely to cause emotional harm to the child. It is our practice to respect a child’s request regarding this issue whenever possible. With children under the age of 14 years, we do expect consistent parental or guardian involvement in the form of formal, scheduled sessions with legal guardians at a frequency that we agree is appropriate. These typically occur every 4-6 individual sessions that we are working with the child.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF COUNSELING SERVICES
SFIS Counseling Center provides confidential counseling services. Confidentiality and privacy is preserved unless there is Release of Information signed by the client or parent on file. The licensed counselors are required, as mandated reporters by law, to report any concerns of safety to the proper tribal and legal authorities for any person under the age of 18. See 45 CFR Section 164.512 (a), (c). The following refers to limits of confidentiality. The law protects the privacy of all communications between therapist and client except in the following situations:

• If abuse or neglect of a child under 18 years old is suspected, or if a child discloses abuse or neglect directly to us, we are required by law to inform the appropriate authorities, which begins with SFIS designated administrator and School Resource Officer, and can then proceed to appropriate law enforcement or social service agency who has jurisdiction over the child.
• If we believe that a client presents a substantial and imminent risk of serious harm to another person, we are required by law to take protective action which may include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalization for the client.
• If a client presents a substantial risk or serious harm to himself/herself, we are required by law to contact family members (usually a legal guardian) who can help provide protection and to facilitate hospitalization for the client. Once notified, it is the guardian’s responsibility to provide this protection and appropriate medical and/or mental health care for their child.
• Personal identifying information may be given to emergency medical services in order to protect the client in the event of an imminent risk to self or others or in the case of a medical emergency.
• Insurance companies require that we disclose some information regarding assessment and treatment in order to be reimbursed for the cost of services. We make it a practice to disclose the minimum information required.
• If you are involved in a court proceeding and Santa Fe Indian School is ordered by the court to disclose information, we are required by law to do so.

COUNSELING CENTER REFERRAL
Students can be referred to the counseling center by school faculty and staff, family, other students, community members, or by themselves. Depending on the level of urgency for the referral, a meeting with a counselor will occur within 24-48 hours to determine counseling needs. A student seeking counseling services can request a pass to the School Health Center and speak to a counselor directly during Drop In Counseling hours.

 SFIS Counseling Center Comment, Compliment or Complaint Form

SFIS Counseling Center is committed to providing the highest quality mental health services to our students and families. We appreciate all kinds of feedback to help us with our continuous quality improvement. If you would like to provide us with feedback you may use this SFIS Counseling Center Comment Compliment or Complaint Form.