What’s Peer Counseling?
William S Hart Unified School District
What a Hart District Wellness Center provides
Peer counseling, located in the GROWL center, is a comfortable, relaxing space where students can go to get away from the stress of school and life. Grizzlies can go during free periods, breaks, and classes with a pass from their teacher. Many talented students took a peer counseling class, and there are currently two staff members who run the program.
The GROWL Wellness Center supports the mental health of students. They advocate well-being, self-advocacy, and students’ educational outcomes. The GROWL center acts as a safe space for students to talk to peers, get mental health help, etc.
Entering the GROWL Center, you are warmly greeted, and a student will ask if you would like to talk about what’s on your mind. Danielle Luna, a 12th grader who recently visited the GROWL Center, told The Grizzly Gazette, “I felt welcomed because everyone greets you, and they are all open to talk.”
The counselors understand that you might want to wait to open up. You are given your respected space and privacy if you want to be alone. You can talk about anything, and the counselors are there for you. If you want to take it all in, you can comfortably do so here.
Luna continued, “I felt comfortable because there are little games you can play, so that helps with awkwardness and helps you feel more welcomed and comfortable to talk about a sensitive topic.”
There are many services that the GROWL center offers, such as:
-Assessment of Basic School Needs
-Case Management
-Education and Awareness Programming
-Parent Education
-Referrals to Community Resources
The GROWL Center is always there for Grizzlies! You can find the GROWL center in the 500 buildings on the bottom floor. You can just walk in or make an appointment!
Danellie McIntyre, or more commonly known as Nani, is a senior at Golden Valley. She’s a staff writer for the Arts, Media, and Culture Team. Nani was at Golden Valley during freshman year and was a soccer manager for the freshman girl soccer team. She joined Golden Valley during October in 2022.
Nani is passionate about covering music topics and books. She loves journalism due to the chance of covering things she is passionate about. It allows her to spread true news and entertaining topics. Writing gives Nani a sense of freedom.
Nani spends her free time reading, listening to music and playing video games such as Valorant. She is a social media manager for an escrow company and a dog sitter and walker. Nani enjoys concerts and traveling.
Hannah Monet Medellin is a twelfth grade student at Golden Valley High School. She is active in her school by being a staff writer for the new Grizzly Gazette, and a peer counselor at the GROWL center. She began peer counseling in the eleventh grade and has worked her way to the honors peer counseling. Hannah is an avid reader and plant owner. For most of her life she found herself lost in the thoughts of others that shared it through ink on a paper. When she was fourteen she began to fall back into her love for plants and has plans to have her own greenhouse someday.
She has always had a love for reading and writing and can’t wait to participate in reading everyone's articles and sharing her own. Showing the creativity of others is her goal. If there is any short story, poems or art that wants to be submitted she’d love to share it in her articles!