Is there a fee for service?
The On-Campus Counseling Program is free of charge on the seven school campuses we serve.

How are services accessed?
Services can be accessed in several ways. The most common method is for your child to be referred to ACS by the guidance counselor on your child’s school campus. Students can refer themselves by visiting the ACS office on their campus or by contacting the ACS Site Director. Parents can also refer their children. Contact an ACS Site Director.

How are On-Campus counselors different from guidance counselors?
Guidance counselors are specially trained to address the academic needs of the students. They most commonly focus on issues regarding scheduling, academic planning, teacher concerns and special education. ACS On-Campus counselors are marriage and family therapy interns who are specially trained to address the emotional needs of the students. These counselors most commonly focus on issues the student is facing outside of the school which may be impacting his or her academic functioning. On-Campus counselors also address the issues the student may be facing inside the school, such as bullying and peer conflict. On-Campus counselors hold weekly therapy sessions to help students work through these issues, as well as provide counseling for students experiencing immediate crises. Read more about the On-Campus Counseling Program.

Who provides counseling?
ACS places Marriage and Family Therapist interns, Social Work interns, and Psychologist interns on each of the campuses to provide therapy for students and families in need of services. These interns are either: working toward earning their MA/MS or PhD in Psychology or a related field, or have already earned their degree and are in the process of completing the 3000 hours needed to become licensed therapists. Each intern is closely supervised by a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or a Licensed Psychologist (PhD) 1 to 3 hours per week.

Do you have evening hours or after school hours?
The On-Campus Counseling Program is in operation during school hours. However, interns are available by appointment directly before school and immediately after school, for families unable to come during school hours.

Do you provide counseling in Spanish, Cantonese or other languages?
Some campuses do provide counseling in a variety of languages. Contact the ACS Site Director on your campus for more information on the availability of bilingual counseling on your school campus.

Does ACS provide family counseling?
Yes. The On-Campus Counseling Program provides family counseling to the families of students on our campuses, based on the discretion of the therapist working with the family and the family’s availability.

Is the information shared during a counseling session really confidential?
As with any therapeutic relationship, all information shared during the counseling session is confidential, with the exception of safety concerns. These exceptions are clearly explained during the first meeting with the client and/or client’s family. These exceptions extend to the intern’s supervisor and the school campus’ Human Service Team as needed.