Guidance/Support
The Guidance Center at Mercy Career & Technical High School consists of professional counselors whose primary goal is to serve our students as well as their families in meeting success.
We offer a safe, nurturing environment for students to grow, explore their curiosity, lead active lives and feel empowered to pursue their dreams.
Our primary goal is to serve our students as well as their families in meeting success through:
• Supports
• D & A Prevention & Information
• Grief & Loss Group
• Life In a Flash
• Relationships
• Student Assistance Program
The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is made up of a team of trained adults chosen from the faculty and staff to provide support to students who appear to be experiencing marked behavioral changes or a high level of emotional
distress which may be related to such issues as abuse, anxiety/depression or substance use.
Meet Jameson
Benefits of having a therapy dog in school include*:
• Physical. Interaction with therapy dogs has been shown to reduce blood pressure, provide physical stimulation and assist with pain management.
• Social. A visiting therapy dog promotes greater self-esteem and focused interaction with other students and teachers.
• Cognitive. It has been empirically proven that therapy dogs stimulate memory and problem-solving skills.
• Emotional and mental health. A recent national survey of adolescent mental health found that about 8 to 10 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder.
*Source: therapydogs.com
Meet the Team
Ms. Mary Terese Lopata, LCSW
- Director of Guidance
- School Social Worker
- 12th grade School Counselor
- 11th and 10th grade L-Z School Counselor
Ms. Teena Weisler-Vega, LSW, CTP, CMIP
- 9th grade School Counselor (A-Z)
- School Social Worker
- Fluent Spanish speaker
Ms. Lindsay Thudium: Cora Counselor
Ms. Anastasia Muya: Cora Psychologist
Ms. Abigail Claycomb: Catapult Title I Reading Specialist
Ms. Laura Jones: Catapult Family Liaison Counselor