The Greene County School District has implemented a program that provides additional mental health therapy services for free to every student and beyond.

Director of Counseling Services Kyle Kinne says the district has Student Assistance Plans (SAPs) available to every student, where they are allowed up to six free therapy sessions via telepsychic that are so confidential, he points out that not even school staff know who is using the program. He emphasizes that these sessions are mainly intended to help all students through anything that could be emotional like a relationship break-up, to not wanting to go to school. Kinne explains that these therapy sessions should be used to prevent someone from having a crisis situation with their mental health.

“Sometimes in our busy world, I think of a tire on my car. I must have had a nail in it, but it was leaking air a little bit, I probably went longer than I should’ve, I just kept putting more air in it, (and) just getting by. Well if it was busted I would’ve definitely got it in and get it fixed right away. And so I think mental health can sometimes be like that, that we’re like, ‘Oh, I think we’re okay, I think we’re okay.’ Instead of just spending the time just to say, ‘Hey let’s go look at this. Let’s go get this resolved right now.’ It’s a small thing and don’t wait until things get in a crisis.”      

Kinne is excited that this program is also for family members of every student.

“That might be a parent that’s struggling with, maybe they’re taking care of not only their kids but their parent who’s getting up in age, or the loss of a parent, or a divorce that’s going through, and it takes like two months to get into a therapist or whatever. They have that access to it and I just think it’s a great thing.” 

Kinne adds that because the sessions are done remotely, students and family members can utilize it from home, work, or wherever they feel comfortable and confidential. Contact Kinne at the high school for more information.