Waccamaw Center for Mental Health

School-Based Services

School-Based Services is the largest Child, Adolescent, and Families Services program at WCMH and throughout the state of South Carolina.  The program serves children and families who have emotional, social, and behavioral problems. 

School-Based Services increases access to mental health services for children and families and decreases the stigma that is sometimes associated with traditional counseling services.

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What Services are provided?

When should a student be referred?

How often and How Long?

Are services Private and Confidential?

Benefits to families

Benefits to Students

Benefits to Schools

Contact us

What Services are provided.

Services that are provided in the school-based program include:

* Individual Counseling.

* Family Counseling

* Group Counseling

* Crisis intervention

* Psychiatric consultation

* Consultation with school staff

* Staff Development Workshops

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When should a student be referred?

Students who display behaviors which disrupt relationships with other people affect their school performance, or cause the student personal distress may benefit from mental health counseling

These difficulties may include:

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How often and how long?

The frequencies and length of treatment depends on the needs of the student and his/her family or support system. The key to success is involvement of all important parties ( the student, parents, school staff, etc.), and the ability to work together to address all the needs of the student.

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Are services private and confidential?

Counseling services will be provided in a confidential setting at the school where the privacy of the student and his/her family will be respected. Parental permission is required for the mental health counselor to work with students. The only exception is if there is a crisis situation and the legal guardian is unable to be immediately contacted. The legal guardian will be notified as soon as possible.

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Benefits to families

• Non-stigmatic

• Increased access to services

• Eliminates transportation problems

• Sessions as needed on site

• Access to child's teacher and student assistance teams

• Crisis episodes handled immediately

• Treatment duration decreases

• Reduces attention span difficulties

• Builds academic and behavioral competencies

• decrease conduct disorder, oppositional behaviors and anxiety disorders

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Benefits to students

• Eliminates stigma of going to see mental health counselor at "clinic"

• Immediate access to discuss problems/challenges

• Enjoy attending groups with peers

• Have a support network at school

• Opportunity to learn problem solving skills.

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Benefits to schools

• Collaboration with school staff on addressing mental health issues

• Crisis episodes handled on site

• Mental Health counselor able to work with difficult students daily, if needed.

• Mental Health counselor able to work with families more often

• Families more approachable

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Contact us

For more information or to see if services are available in your school click the following link based on your county.

Horry county

Georgetown County

Williamsburg County