Mental Health / Counseling
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Hello and welcome to the DeSoto School District website! My name is Dr. Amy Bennett and I am the Associate Director of Student Services. The DeSoto School District offers many counseling opportunities for your student(s). We have expanded our number of social workers/mental health therapists to allow us to have one in every school! We have added new partners to help provide therapy services to both our students and their families. We’ve added Safe Children Coalition and The Family Care Medical Center. This will allow the school district to offer mental health services to a greater number of students. If you feel that you would like to refer your child to be assessed by a professional to determine if they need counseling, you may contact your school guidance counselor or social worker/mental health therapist to initiate the process. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for help, we are here to help make your child successful!
If you have questions pertaining to these services please call Dr. Amy Bennett, Department of Student Services at (863)993-1333.
If you are interested in your child receiving a screening, you may complete the a referral form "SY24 Counseling Referral Form" in the documents section below and submit it to the guidance counselor, social worker, or mental health counselor at your child’s school. All screenings are conducted by school-based mental health staff. Please note that your child will never be screened without your consent.
If you have questions pertaining to these services please call the Department of Student Services at (863)993-1333. |
Mental Health Referral Documents
Mental Health Screening Process
If you are interested in your child receiving a screening, you may complete the a referral form "SY24 Counseling Referral Form" in the documents section above and submit it to the guidance counselor, social worker, or mental health counselor at your child’s school. All screenings are conducted by school-based mental health staff. Please note that your child will never be screened without your consent.
After screening, if it is deemed that your child would benefit from further testing you will be contacted to participate in a psycho-social evaluation with your child. This assessment will be conducted by school staff and/or one of our community partners. You will need to sign additional consents for this assessment and further treatment of your child, if deem warranted.
School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals with an upper-level degree. They provide assistance related to a student's social, emotional, and life modification to school and/or society. School Social Workers are the connection between the home, school, and community in providing services to students, families, and school personnel to promote and support students' academic and social success. Social Workers do work for the DeSoto County School system.
| Treasa Griffin School Social Worker - West Elementary School |
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Dana Williams
School Social Worker - DeSoto High School
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863-494-3434
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Jennifer Allen
Licensed Mental Health Counselor - DeSoto Middle School
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863-494-4133
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Teressa Lee
School Social Worker - Memorial Elementary School
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863-494-2736
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Karen Warren
Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Nocatee Elementary School & Memorial Elementary School
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863-494-4511 & 863-494-2736
[email protected] |
If a student is in crisis we are there to support him/her. We have social workers and mental health counselors available to assist your child. We also have partnered with Centerstone to provide us with a mobile crisis unit to assist in deescalating the crisis situation and/or assessing your child.