About Us
Our School Counseling & School Social Work Team
Our team at Park City High School supports every student through a comprehensive, data-driven, and developmentally appropriate system of services. Guided by the Utah K-12 Comprehensive School Counseling Program and Utah’s School-Based Mental Health Framework, we promote each student’s academic success, emotional well-being, and readiness for life after high school.
A Note on Our Services - School counselors and school social workers provide school-based support rather than psychotherapy or clinical treatment. When students require ongoing therapy, diagnostic services, or specialized mental health care, we work closely with families to connect them with licensed community providers to ensure they receive the necessary care.
School Counseling Services
At Park City High School, our counselors implement the Utah K–12 Comprehensive School Counseling Program to provide a whole-child, systemic approach. Using a data-driven process, counselors identify student needs, provide targeted interventions, close equity gaps, and strengthen college and career readiness for all students. This model is delivered through three core domains:
1. College & Career Readiness
Counselors help students build and update four-year plans aligned with graduation requirements while exploring college, career, technical, and military pathways. Through classroom lessons, individual meetings, and schoolwide programming, our team matches future opportunities with student strengths and interests. We also provide dedicated support for applications, scholarships, and financial aid to ensure students are fully prepared for life after high school.
2. Student Well-being
To promote well-being, school counselors use a solution-focused approach to help students navigate the school environment and manage common concerns like academic stress or social challenges. We focus on building proactive skills to empower students to handle daily hurdles with confidence. By utilizing the MTSS framework and collaborating with staff, we provide a layered support system that ensures every student feels safe, connected, and ready to learn.
3. Academic Support
To strengthen academic success, counselors monitor grades, attendance, and school engagement to identify and remove barriers to learning. We collaborate with teachers and families to develop effective support plans and manage schedule adjustments or academic changes based on individual student needs. This ensures equitable access to opportunities and keeps every student on track for graduation.
School Social Work Services
At Park City High School, school social workers provide specialized expertise in mental health, family systems, and community resources to support the whole child. They serve as a vital link between the school, family and caregivers and the community. School social workers strive to identify and help negotiate social, emotional and environmental barriers to academic success. By offering trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and safety planning, social workers ensure that students have support to navigate the challenges of the adolescent high school years.
Beyond immediate crisis support, PCHS social workers partner closely with school counselors and staff to address complex needs that require further intervention. They provide short-term education in coping skills to include problem solving, conflict resolution, feelings identification and self regulation skills. Social work staff help advocate for students facing the challenges of basic needs and\or major loss and life transitions. As the bridge to community resources, school social workers connect families and caregivers to community-based mental health services and external agencies, ensuring that students receive a seamless continuum of care both inside and outside the classroom.
The Role of Data
Data is the foundation of our counseling program. We utilize multiple sources—including academic performance, attendance, behavior, and wellness measures—to provide equitable support. Every three years, we administer a Comprehensive Needs Assessment to students, families, and staff to identify community strengths and emerging gaps. This information is used to set program goals, prioritize classroom lessons, and align our services with state standards.
Additionally, counselors complete an annual Data Project focused on a targeted student population. This project evaluates the impact of our interventions and guides our decision-making. These findings are submitted to district leadership and the Utah State Board of Education every June to ensure our program remains responsive and effective.
Professional Expertise & Leadership
Our team maintains high professional standards through regular training and active involvement in the counseling community. We stay current with best practices in college access and mental health through memberships in several professional associations, including: Utah School Counselor Association (USCA), the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and both the National and Rocky Mountain associations for College Admission Counseling (NACAC and RMACAC).
🏆 2025 Recipients of the USCA School Counseling Program of the Year Award!