The Evolution of Millbrook’s
PEER COUNSELING PROGRAM Millbrook’s longstanding Peer Counseling community service has been reimagined into two distinct student roles for the 2021-2022 school year. The new design of the program into two groups—Human Development student facilitators and peer supporters—allows leaders to play to their individual strengths and creates additional leadership opportunities.
As Millbrook’s IVth form Human Development curriculum has expanded
connect can do so in a variety of venues. They are practicing active listening
beyond the state-mandated health class basics, the involvement of student
skills and learning how to build rapport quickly in one-on-one interactions.
facilitators has grown apace. Saturday morning Human Development classes
Sarah Stanton LCSW ’89, director of counseling, and Billy Thom LMSW,
meet in small groups around campus, and topics of discussion include
assistant director, meet weekly with the crew of peer supporters in a bright
identity, mental health, drugs and alcohol, relationships, and sex and
conference room in the new counseling center. These meetings are intended
sexuality. As in the past, student facilitators work with faculty to create a safe
to debrief, train, and provide a regular forum in which Millbrook’s counselors
and supportive environment to explore issues, discuss the curriculum, and
can gain insight into campus issues and moods.
tweak relevant coursework.
The counseling center, completed last spring, provides comfortable and private
Peer supporters are not participating in the Human Development course;
spaces for sensitive conversations and room for larger group meetings and
instead, they are training to facilitate the more dynamic interactions that
strategy sessions. By design, the counseling center’s new location in the Barn
can take place in dorms or informally elsewhere on campus. Peer supporters
has strengthened the connection to the Student Life Office and engendered a
are encouraged to circulate beyond their own dorms so students seeking to
more holistic approach to mental health and wellness on campus.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021
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