WELCOME TO THE Mental Health &

Wellness CENTER (Room 801)

Formerly known as The Student Family Center

STHS Online MH & Wellness Center

Staff CONTACT Information

Rachel Ghezzi, LCSW, PPSC

Alonso Avalos, MSW, PPSC

Instagram: @stwellnesscenter

Agencies On Campus 

Fall 2022



TOOLS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS:

The County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency offers access to many types of health insurance coverage, including Medi-Cal, Healthy Kids, Valley Kids, CoveredCA, and Confidential Youth Services  



Medi-Cal Services:

1-408-758-3600


An online tool for parents or caregivers dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Visit their website for more information! 

Teen Therapy Center Silicon Valley

Sign up for the Teen Therapy Center of Silicon Valley newsletter to receive monthly articles about parenting teens and browse past newsletters! 

For Apps available on your Smartphone, go to the bottom of the resources. 

The Mental Health & Wellness Center provides safe and supportive environments in the school setting where students can discuss a variety of topics in a confidential, nonjudgmental space staffed with professionals who are dedicated to improving the health, well being, and educational outcomes of all students. Through both on-campus programming and community-based partnerships, Santa Teresa students will receive assessment, counseling, and referrals to other support services to maximize student engagement and success.

The Mental Health & Wellness Center is staffed with a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MFT and Social Work Associates and Interns, and Community-Based Organizations (also known as agencies) to address challenging issues that may be interfering with the ability to be academically successful in school.

The MHWC addresses a wide variety of issues such as: 

How do I refer a student to the MHWC?

Students, staff, guardians or any concerned person can refer a student to the MH&WC. To submit a referral, click here!  (new form coming for Fall 22) In addition, students can self-refer or refer friends by coming directly to the MHWC during the school day.

What types of services are provided?

Students can participate in a variety of services including assessments, brief individual therapy or support groups  on-campus, and referrals to resources both on and off campus. MHWC services provided to students are free!

How often will students miss classes to utilize the MHWC?

Students usually participate in MHWC services up to one hour per week. MHWC providers will alternate class periods for appointments and/or group sessions so that students do not miss the same class regularly. All students are issued a call slip for MHWC appointments.

Where exactly is the MHWC located?

Santa Teresa High School’s Mental Health & Wellness Center is located in room 801. The Calming Space is the large, quiet room in the back. Please enter by walking through the hallway. You will sign in with a staff member.


What can I expect in the Calming Space?


Crisis Support

If you feel you need emotional support at this time or if you are concerned about the emotional needs of a friend, please go by the MHWC at any time during the school day. Counselors are available to talk with you. In addition, there are resources available in our community, 24 hours a day. Below are some phone numbers that you may call at any time, for any reason.



COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

In Alphabetical Order:

Alum Rock Counseling Center (408) 294-0500. Crisis line (408) 294-0579

ARCC offers nearly a dozen separate programs for high-risk youth and their families. Programs, offered individually or in various combinations focus on: early childhood development and parent coaching, middle school student mentoring, life skills development, truancy reduction, gang-related services, mobile crisis response and counseling, case management, child abuse and neglect prevention and community outreach.

Almaden Valley Counseling Services (408) 997-0200

AVCS provides Short and long term counseling for children, adolescents, individual adults, couples and families. Fees are based on a sliding scale and are determined by income. In addition, AVCS offers a Geriatric Advisory Program, Parenting Classes, Cooperative Parenting and Divorce classes, and referrals.

Asian Americans for Community Involvement (408) 975-2730

AACI is Santa Clara County’s largest community-based organization focused on Asian Americans in the community. For 40 years, their services have provided critical support and we continue to grow to provide culturally accessible services, not only for Asian Americans but for all.

Bill Wilson Center (408) 243-0222. Crisis Line (408) 850-6125

Bill Wilson Center offers a wide variety of services for children, adolescents and adults. Learn about all Bill Wilson Center programs by visiting their website or by calling their number.    

Bill Wilson Center's Centre for Living with Dying (408) 243-0222

The Centre for Living with Dying serves children, adolescents, and adults who are dealing with grief and loss. The Centre for Living with Dying program provides emotional support to adults and children facing life-threatening illness or the trauma of having a loved one die. The Centre also provides crisis intervention services and broad-based educational programs on grief and loss. Whether clients choose individual counseling or grief groups, they are gently given tools for coping with loss and trauma.

Catholic Charities SCC (408) 468-0100

Child Protective Services (408) 299-2071

County Children’s Health Insurance Program 

The County Children's Health Insurance Program (CCHIP) offers comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance for uninsured children and teens who qualify for the program.

Gardner Family Health (408) 287-6200

Gardner provides a wide variety of services in response to community needs, including medical, dental, vision, mental and behavioral health, counseling, and substance abuse services to more than 55,000 Santa Clara County residents annually. Visit their website or call their number to learn about their services.

Homefirst (408) 539-2100

HomeFirst provides services, shelter, and housing opportunities to the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in Santa Clara County. They serve more than 5,000 adults, veterans, families, and youth each year at seven locations.

Kaiser Permanente (408) 972-3000

Offers individual counseling, group counseling, psychiatry, health classes, and self-care resources for Kaiser members.   

Legal Advocates for Children and Youth (408) 280-2416

Free and confidential legal assistance to children and youth in juvenile dependency, family law, probate guardianship, education matters and numerous other practice areas; advocacy to improve court and community systems designed to protect and promote child welfare; and workshops to educate youth, parents, caregivers and members of the community about issues impacting child welfare and legal rights.

LifeMoves (408) 271-1630

Emergency and transitional shelters for families with children under 18, daytime and food services to families in Santa Clara County.  

Next Door Solutions for Domestic Violence (408) 501-7550. Crisis line (408) 279-2962

Assists survivors of domestic violence and their children learn what services they need, how to access those services in the community, and when best to seek out each service. Provides housing solutions for women and their children, crisis and community support for survivors of domestic violence and their families, kids groups, and self-sufficiency programs which provides guidance and direction in job readiness, and financial foundation and fundamentals.

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (202) 467-8180

Offers support for families, allies and people who are LGBTQ, education for about the unique issues and challenges facing people who are LGBTQ, and advocacy in our communities to change attitudes and create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ.

Planned Parenthood (408) 287-7526

With or without insurance, Planned Parenthood provides of high-quality, affordable health care for all, testing, birth control, and sex education.

Momentum for Mental Health (855) 2-732-2487

Raising Early Awareness and Creating Hope (REACH) serves youth ages 10 to 25 who are either showing early signs or have recently been diagnosed with a psychosis. REACH offers: psycho-education for the community, phone and in-person consultations, multidisciplinary assessments, outreach to schools, individual and family counseling, crisis management, medication management, occupational therapy, supported education and employment, and peer mentor support.

Starlight Community Services (408) 284-9000

Services are available to those ages 2-25 residing in Santa Clara County who have mental health issues at home or at school. The Starlight staff collaborates with teachers, principals, and other school personnel to achieve goals established by the student, family, and treatment professionals.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (408) 885-5000

Offers individual counseling, group counseling, psychiatry, health classes, and self-care resources for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center members.

Ujima (408) 928-1700

Afro centric services targeting African American families and youth at risk. Providing 24 hour home based case management services and African American Survival Skills Groups for youth and families.

Pacific Clinics (formerly Uplift) (408) 379-3796

Pacific Clinics offers individual and family counseling, wraparound services, crisis services, parent/caregiver services using a strength-based approach to define and individualize services.  

APPS!

If you or your family want some additional help in addressing mental health needs, check out one of these highly-regarded apps today! 

General Mental Health:

What’s Up is an amazing free app that uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) methods to help you cope with Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and more. Use the positive and negative habit tracker to maintain your good habits, and break those that are counterproductive. (Free, iOS, Android)

Mood Kit uses the foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and provides users with over 200 different mood improvement activities. Developed by two clinical psychologists, MoodKit helps you learn how to change how you think, and develop self-awareness and healthy attitudes. ($4.99, iOS)

Addiction:

Quit That! is a completely free app that helps users beat their habits or addictions. Whether you’re looking to stop drinking alcohol, quit smoking, or stop taking drugs, it’s the perfect recovery tool to track and monitor your progress. Track as many vices as you want and find out how many minutes, hours, days, weeks, or years it’s been since you quit. (Free, iOS)

Wellbeing:

Calm is quickly becoming regarded as one of the best mental health apps available. Calm provides people experiencing stress and anxiety with guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music. (Free, iOS, Android)

Headspace makes meditation simple. Learn the skills of mindfulness and meditation by using this app for just a few minutes per day. You gain access to hundreds of meditations on everything from stress and anxiety to sleep and focus. ($12.99/month, iOS, Android)

Anxiety:

Mind Shift is one of the best mental health apps designed specifically for teens and young adults with anxiety. Rather than trying to avoid anxious feelings, Mind Shift stresses the importance of changing how you think about anxiety. (Free, iOS, Android)

Self-Help for Anxiety Management (SAM) might be perfect for you if you’re interested in self-help, but meditation isn’t your thing. Users are prompted to build their own 24-hour anxiety toolkit that allows you to track anxious thoughts and behavior over time, and learn 25 different self-help techniques. (Free, iOS, Android)

Depression:

Happify is your fast-track to a good mood with its psychologist-approved mood-training program. Try various engaging games, activity suggestions, gratitude prompts and more to train your brain as if it were a muscle, to overcome negative thoughts. (Free, iOS, Android)

Eating Disorder:

Recovery Record is a great app for anyone recovering from an eating disorder and wanting to develop a more positive body image. Keep a record of the meals you eat and how they make you feel using the app and complete questionnaires that’ll help you track your progress over time. (Free, iOS, Android)

Rise Up + Recover is a unique app as it not only allows you to track your meals and how you feel when you eat them, but you can also transcribe your progress into a PDF printout. Pull up the Rise + Recover app on your mobile when you feel the urge to binge or skip a meal, and need quick coping strategies. (Free, iOS, Android)

Suicide Prevention:

MY3 is aimed at people who are depressed and suicidal, and trains users to recognize suicide warning signs in others. MY3 asks you to choose three close contacts that you feel comfortable reaching out to when you’re down and keeps you connected to this core network. It helps you create your own safety plan asking you to think through and list your own warning signs, coping strategies and support network, so that you can easily act when you recognize your warning signs. (Free, iOS, Android)

Helpful Videos featured in STHS announcements

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