The philosophy of the Jesuit High School Counseling Department is rooted firmly in the Jesuit concept of cura personalis, that is, to address the needs of each individual. Therefore, this comprehensive counseling program seeks to meet the personal, academic, college and career needs of our students.

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Academic Guidance:  Counselors disseminate information relevant to a student's academic needs, thus enabling him to make sound and mature decisions regarding his performance and future planning.  This includes information regarding course selection, graduation requirements, special placements, summer school, discussion and interpretation of standardized testing (PLAN, PSAT, SAT Reasoning Test & SAT Subject Tests , ACT), study skills, behavior, motivation, Peer Tutoring, and Academic Probation monitoring.

College Guidance:  Counselors guide students through the college admissions process by providing information on the college search, testing, financial aid and scholarships.  College Information Night, Jesuit College Fair, and Financial Aid Information Night are hosted on campus each fall.  In addition, over 75 college admission representatives visit campus each year to talk with interested students.

Personal Guidance:  In the school context, personal counseling, both individual and group, focuses on creating a safe place where students can talk openly about the issues troubling them, and get support and assistance in problem solving.  It is important to distinguish school counseling from psychotherapy.  Students who may require individual or family therapy will be referred to outside agencies for assessment.  A list of referrals will be offered to the student and his family.

Confidentiality:  Any information of a personal nature disclosed by a student in the process of counseling is confidential.  However, while maintaining the anonymity of the student, matters of health, life, and safety may be discussed with the Director of Counseling Services or the Principal in the normal course of staff supervision.

In addition, California State Law specifies six exceptions to this understanding of confidentiality:

• Discussions with licensed physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists or other health care providers for the sole purpose of referring the student for treatment.
• Reporting child abuse as required by law.
• Reporting information to the principal or parents when the counselor has reasonable cause to believe that disclosure is necessary to avert a clear and imminent danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the student or others.
• Reporting information to persons outside the school when a student indicates that a crime involving the likelihood of significant personal injury or significant property losses will be or has been committed.
• Reporting to one or more specific persons in a written waiver after this waiver has been read and signed by the student and preserved in the student’s counseling file.
• Disclosing confidential information when ordered to do so by a court of law.