School-Based Counseling
Mental health care where students already are.
For many children and families, getting to a traditional counseling office every week can be difficult. Transportation, work schedules, distance, and other responsibilities can become barriers to consistent care—especially in rural communities.
Riverbase Counseling provides outpatient mental health services within the school setting, allowing eligible students to receive professional counseling during the school day while reducing many of the barriers families may experience when trying to access care.
Is school-based therapy the same as seeing the school counselor?
No. Both services are valuable, but they serve different purposes.
School counselors are an important part of the educational team and provide support to students within the school environment.
Riverbase Counseling provides outpatient behavioral health treatment by a Licensed Professional Counselor. Students receiving Riverbase services are clients of Riverbase Counseling and participate in assessment, individualized treatment planning, and ongoing therapy based upon their clinical needs.
School-based therapy is intended to complement—not replace—the important work already being done by school counselors, teachers, administrators, families, and other professionals supporting the student.
What can school-based counseling help with?
Students may receive support for concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD-related challenges, emotional regulation, behavioral concerns, grief, family changes, peer relationships, school adjustment, stress, and other mental health concerns affecting their daily lives.
Treatment is individualized based on the student's needs rather than limited to a particular diagnosis or concern.
What role do parents and schools have?
Parents and caregivers remain an important part of treatment. When appropriate, family sessions, caregiver consultation, or additional support may be incorporated into the student's treatment plan.
With appropriate authorization, Riverbase Counseling may also collaborate with school personnel and other professionals involved in the student's care. Collaboration can help everyone better understand how to support the student emotionally, socially, and academically while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
Why provide therapy at school?
Because access matters.
When students can receive appropriate mental health treatment in a familiar environment, families may experience fewer transportation and scheduling barriers, and students have greater opportunity to receive consistent support.
Riverbase Counseling believes rural families deserve access to quality mental health care without geography becoming another obstacle they have to overcome.