Student Life

Counseling

At Hyde Park Schools, we recognize that students’ social, emotional, and developmental health is closely connected to academic success. Because students are not one-dimensional, each school level has a dedicated counselor who proactively partners with students and families, intervenes when needed, and supports students as they grow. When additional support is needed, counselors connect families with local providers for specialized or long-term services, including individual or family counseling and neuropsychological testing.

Our Student Support Counselors provide short-term counseling, brief family consultations, crisis management, goal-oriented interventions, and referrals to community resources. Services are tailored to students’ developmental needs and may include individual or small-group counseling. In Lower School, support often focuses on social skills, friendships, and conflict resolution. In Middle School, counseling emphasizes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, and responsible decision-making. In Upper School, increasingly complex social, emotional, and behavioral needs are addressed through evidence-based approaches that promote overall student functioning.

Student Support Counselors also partner with parents through Parent University, our in-house program designed to address the evolving needs of students and families. In collaboration with local experts and resources, counselors equip parents with practical tools to support their children and strengthen the partnership between home and school.

Meet our Counseling Team

Melanie Challberg, LCSW
Student Support Counselor
Upper School
Debbie Pakes
Student Support Counselor
Middle School
Lauren Schmidt, LPC
Student Support Counselor
Lower School