East Mountain School

East Mountain School’s counseling program is designed to address the social-emotional, psychiatric, and behavioral needs of the student population. The focus of the counseling program is to help students reach their academic potential by addressing interpersonal relationships, substance abuse issues, mental health issues, and family conflict. The goal is to increase self-esteem, learn healthy coping strategies, and improve academic and behavioral functioning.

East Mountain School is unique in terms of providing extensive therapeutic services. Our clinical staff offer a variety of group counseling sessions:

• relaxation groups
• social skills training
• conflict management
• peer support services
• art exploration
• mindfulness interventions

Students are offered group counseling based on their individual needs and learn to manage their emotions in a creative and positive manner. In addition, all staff and students are educated in a mindful approach to health and well-being.

Involvement in counseling services, allows students an opportunity to identify obstacles to learning. School Social Workers work collaboratively with families, child study teams, and community treatment providers to create a supportive and comprehensive treatment plan. Students learn to develop coping strategies and increase their confidence and self-esteem.

A Substance Abuse (SAC) Counselor (Drug & Alcohol Education) provides counseling in the drug and alcohol areas and facilitates services to students who may have issues in this area. The SAC counselor additionally offers support to both students and staff by facilitating specialized assembly programs that focus upon substance abuse issues.

Behavior Management Program
A strong behavioral reinforcement/rewards program has been put into place with positive reinforcement provided when students exhibit appropriate school behaviors (i.e., attending class, completing assignments, following directions, interacting with peers and staff, self-control, homework). Our point-level system allows students to earn positive reinforcement based rewards, which are offered on a daily and weekly basis and are an incentive for the students to do well.

The school’s behavior management policies focus upon fair and reasonable consequences for violation of school rules and policies (not following directions, non-completion of work, disruptive behaviors, smoking, etc.). The goal is always to gain positive student cooperation as appropriate.

Students who require a more structured approach to behavior management are offered “personal behavioral contracts.” Students work with their counselor to develop specific affective goals and objectives that identify areas in which they would like to improve.

Equine Therapy is made available through Carrier Clinic’s Lodge Residential Program. East Mountain School has also invited our Community Day students to participate in this unique therapeutic approach. Students have an opportunity to learn self-control and appropriate behaviors by interacting with “therapy” horses, within a structured behavioral environment.

Professional Staff

Two-to-One Student-to-Staff Ratio, including the following:

• Director, Principal, & C.S.A.
• School Business Administrator
• Academic Program Supervisors
• Content Certified and HQT Special Education Teachers
• Teacher Assistants in classes
• Certified and Licensed School Social Workers
• Behavior/Safety Staff Specialists
• Substance Awareness Coordinator
• School Counselors
• Life Skills Program Teacher
• Cosmetology Teacher
• Instrumental Music Program
• Reading Remediation Teacher
• Speech Language Specialist
• Spanish Exploratory Language
• Health & Physical Education Staff
• Technology Education Instructor
• Creative Arts Teacher
• School Nurse