Health and Wellness at FWCD

At Fort Worth Country Day, Health and Wellness Counselors in each division strive to foster the social-emotional health and wellness of students through an organized set of programs, activities, policies and procedures that protect and promote the health and well-being of all, JK-12, in the FWCD community. 
Our mental health professionals are licensed, full-time employees with significant training and experience in counseling education and program development. Emotional and social services FWCD Health and Wellness Counselors provide include:
  • Individual guidance as needed to process personal concerns.
  • Assistance to families in accessing treatment in serious situations.
  • Crisis management (consultation, counseling or referrals) in times of distress  (death, divorce or other stressful life experiences) as an individual, family or community.
  • Service as a liaison with the counseling and treatment community.
  • Collaboration with parents on typical age-appropriate behavior and parenting challenges.
  • Training in life and social skills appropriate to each grade level.
  • Assistance in conflict resolution to students.
  • Guidance and information to the Parent Faculty Association on relevant topics and issues for programming.
FWCD’s counseling services are primarily short-term, temporary services aimed at facilitating a more effective educational environment and acclimating students to the School community. The Health and Wellness Counselors provide crisis intervention and periodic consultation during normal school hours. These services are not intended as a substitute for a prescribed program of psychological intervention.
 

Health and Wellness Programs At-a-Glance

Health and Wellness Counselors work with students individually and in small groups by division to explore personal, academic or social struggles they may be experiencing. Students are referred to the counselor by a teacher, parent or by self-referral. In addition to being a resource for students, the counselor is available to parents and faculty/staff. 

Counseling services are primarily short-term, temporary services aimed at facilitating more effective education and socialization of students within the School community.  The counselor provides crisis intervention and periodic consultation during normal school hours. These services are not intended as a substitute for a prescribed program of psychological intervention or a comprehensive psychological, educational or medical evaluation by an outside professional. Visit the individual sections to learn more about division programs.

Parent Education Programs

FWCD’s Health and Wellness Department provides numerous parent education programs that are division specific and across the divisions throughout the school year. The department also collaborates with the Parent Faculty Association on programming and is always available to work with teachers and parents to coordinate behavior and/or academic plans for students who are having difficulties in the classroom or in social situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 5 items.

  • How do students and/or parents access the Health and Wellness Counselor?

    FWCD’s Health and Wellness Counselors are available for students and adults in the FWCD community.  In each division, students access the counselor by self-referral, peer referral, teacher referral or family referral. They can access the counselor in various ways: by walk-in or by appointment. It is recommended that parents call or email to schedule an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome if the Health and Wellness Counselor is available. 

    Lower School: Theresa Fuss, LPC
    theresa.fuss@fwcd.com, 817.732-7718 ext. 3333 

    Middle School: Kathryn Sohne, LMSW
    kathryn.sohne@fwcd.com, 817.302.3200 ext. 3370 

    Upper School: Kathy Roemer, LMSW
    817.302.3266
     

  • How will I know if my student is seeing the Health and Wellness Counselor?

    The FWCD Health and Wellness Counseling Department philosophy is that students are best supported when the School and parents collaborate and work together. Our Health and Wellness Counselors encourage students to communicate with their parents regarding their meetings. Health and Wellness Counselors will engage with parents as partners in ways that are developmentally appropriate to the age of the student. In general, if a student comes into the office once for a minor issue, the counselor will not contact parents unless the student is unsafe. It is best practice for parents to be notified after three visits about the same issue. If a student is in danger of self-harm, being harmed or harming others, the Health and Wellness Counselors are legally obligated to share this information with the appropriate persons (parents/guardians, Division Head/Head of School or state agency).

  • What are the professional standards and guidelines the FWCD Health and Wellness Counselors follow?

    All FWCD Health and Wellness Counselors are licensed and follow a code of ethics mandated by their licensing board. Theresa Fuss, Lower School Health and Wellness Counselor, is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Kathryn Sohne, Middle School Health and Wellness Counselor, and Kathy Roemer, Upper School Health and Wellness Counselor, are Licensed Master Social Workers.

  • What does a Health and Wellness Counselor do?

    FWCD’s Health and Wellness Counselors work with individuals and small groups of students in their respective divisions. They teach guidance curriculum that includes information on social skills, life skills, and health and wellness topics. The Health and Wellness Counselors also consult and collaborate with parents, faculty, staff and community resources to address students’ needs.

    The counselors also work together and with other FWCD organizations, such as the Parent Faculty Association, to put on school-wide and/or cross-divisional programs.

  • Why would a student seek support from a Health and Wellness Counselor?

    Reasons to seek support include, but are not limited to, stress management, academic motivation, ADD/ADHD management, anxiety, depression, substance use, anger management, relationship issues (including family, peers, romantic relationships), harassment or bullying, sexuality/gender issues, academic/sports performance and parental divorce.

Help Resources

Praesidium Hotline

FWCD as a whole also provides a school hotline that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students, parents, faculty and staff are encouraged to call the Fort Worth Country Day School Helpline for confidential, expert consultation from a Praesidium expert for abuse prevention questions and issues, including: 
  • Suspicious or inappropriate behavior
  • Bullying and hazing
  • Student-to-student sexual abuse
  • Child abuse
Call 866.607.7233.
 

The Safe School Helpline

The Safe School Helpline is a convenient, confidential way for anyone to report information about situations that might affect safety at our school. Call the number any time of the day or night to report concerns about unsafe or potentially disruptive activities or situations, including drug or alcohol abuse, weapons, harassment, bullying or threats. All calls are completely confidential.
  • 800-418-6423 (800-4-1-VOICE ext. 359)
  • TEXT: 66746, TIPS
  • www.safeschoolhelpline.com
  • Download the app from iTunes or Google Play
4200 Country Day Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76109
Phone: 817.732.7718
Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD) is a JK-12 private, independent, coeducational, nondenominational college-preparatory school located on approximately 100 acres in Fort Worth, Texas. The mission of Fort Worth Country Day School is to foster the intellectual, physical, emotional, and ethical development of capable students through an academically rigorous college preparatory program that integrates the arts and athletics.