Woodside High School’s Counseling and Advocacy for Teens (C.A.T.)/Adolescent Counseling Services (A.C.S.) Mental Health Program 2012-2013

C.A.T. was a recipient of the 2010 Emily Garfield Memorial Counseling Award: San Mateo Board of Education

Woodside High School’s C.A.T./A.C.S. program exists to provide all students with the necessary support to be successful students. We provide individual and group counseling for students as well as parent resources for students who are referred by our Guidance Counselors and staff. Kymberlee Stanley, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker and school counselor, developed the C.A.T program in the Fall of 2007 after working as a guidance counselor and school social worker. She conceived the idea after seeing the need for students to receive individual counseling support on campus when families may have limited resources to be seen outside of school. This year we partnered with Adolescent Counseling Services to expand our services and provide comprehensive training to the interns providing direct services with our students.

1. Counseling services are provided by two MSW Intern and four MFT Trainees. Mrs. Charlotte Villemoes, MFT and the staff from A.C.S. are the clinical supervisors for the counseling interns who are completing their hours toward licensure. Weekly individual and group supervision is provided to all interns. Staff and guidance counselors are included in assessments of student needs and support plans to help students succeed.

2. Students are referred to the program by their guidance counselors based on academic, social, personal, or crisis counseling needs. Students receive services free of charge for as long as determined necessary for treatment, and are referred to community resources as needed.

3. The program has served over 400 students since September 2007 with individual and group counseling as well as crisis intervention and referrals. We also have served over 1400 students in Suicide Prevention Education presentations in the classrooms. We have received positive feedback from staff and students that the information has been helpful in preparing them to know the warning signs, educate them about teen depression, how to get help if needed, and how to get help for a friend in crisis.

4. All therapists work closely with Woodside Staff to help meet students’ academic goals and to coordinate services. This includes parent contact and permission as well as referrals to community services as needed.

5. Each Intern works 2 days per week. There is a therapist available Monday through Friday and all services are provided in several offices on campus. All therapists are available by phone, email or by appointment, and all work with students is compliant with BBS and ASCA standards for confidentiality and legal/ethical guidelines.

C.A.T./A.C.S Program

You may leave a confidential message at (650) 367-9750 x4370 for anyone below:

Charlotte Villemoes, Liscenced Marriage Family Therapist, C.A.T./A.C.S., cvillemoes@seq.org Program Site Coordinator (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)

Elaine Desuss, PPS Guidance Counselor, C.A.T. Program Manager, edessus@seq.org (Mon-Fri)

Damion Caldwell, Mental Health Counselor Intern, dcaldwell@seq.org (Tues & Wed)

Laura Fletcher, Mental Health Counselor Intern, lfletcher@seq.org (Mon & Thurs)

Dinaz Vilms, Mental Health Counselor Intern, dvilms@seq.org (Tues & Wed)

Heather Morgan, Mental Health Counselor Intern, hmorgan@seq.org (Thurs & Fri)

Kim Schroeder, Mental Health Counselor Intern, kschroeder@seq.org (Thurs & Fri)

Stephanie Moody, Mental Health Counselor Intern, smoody@seq.org (Mon & Tues)

Charlotte Villemoes

C.A.T./ACS Program Site Coordinator

On Campus: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

I began my career as a Communications and Work Environment Consultant in Denmark, then moved to California where I started my journey in the mental health field. For the past 14 years I have worked in various school based settings to provide therapy to children and adolescents, a job that has taught me about the power of a safe and supportive learning environment – and the amazing resilience of young beings.

I am on campus every day except Wednesday where I provide training and supervision to Adolescent Counseling Services in Palo Alto. Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns about one of your students – or just want to sit for a little in our red couch in D2.

I am one to look for the many treasures of life, so apart from working with teens, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking my silly dogs, listening to music, dancing, reading, gardening, traveling or just plain being.

Elaine Dessus

PPS Guidance Counselor, C.A.T./A.C.S. Program Manager

On Campus: Monday through Friday

I am honored and excited to work with the C.A.T./A.C.S. program this year. For the past five years, I have worked as a guidance counselor. My graduate degree included Marriage Family Therapy training and I have a passion to work with students one-on-one to help fulfull their potential and work through life's challenges. I look forward to working with such a wonderful team, great students, and amazing staff.

Dinaz M Vilms, MSW/ASW

Master's of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in NYC, May 2010
Concentration: Advanced Clinical Practice- Health, Mental Health & Disabilities
Santa Clara University- Bachelor of Science in Psychology, June 2006

On campus Tuesday & Wednesday

I come from a multi-cultural background, and have experience providing individual and group therapy with children, adolescents, young adults, and families in a hospital (Gouverneur Hospital- NYC, VA Hospital- Palo Alto) and school based setting ( NYC Dept. of Education, Palo Alto Unified, The Children's Health Council- Palo Alto).

Fun fact: I speak 5 languages, I grew up in Mumbai, London, & Palo Alto...hence, I love to travel! My mom is Parsi (Persian) and my dad is Estonian.

Damion Caldwell, MSW

C.A.T. Program Intern

On Campus: Tuesday & Wednesday

I am very pleased to be here at Woodside High School for my third year. I have worked in various social service agencies which has ran the gamut of a mental health facility for youth, medium security prison for adolescents, group home for children in foster care, alternative high school, and social worker for Children and Family Services. Working with the CAT/ACS program completely aligns with the core foundation of the mentoring program that I created for at-risk student athletes, thus making Woodside High School the ideal placement for me to accumulate clinical hours en route to earning my LCSW. I believe that if we can provide our students with the needed personal and emotional support in the form of substantial and meaningful interventions, academic success is on the horizon.

Disclaimer: I will only check messages when I am here on campus Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Stephanie Moody, MS, MFT trainee

Masters in Science, Clinical Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy from Notre Dame de Namur University (May 2013)
Bachelors of Arts, Psychology from University of New Hampshire

On campus Monday & Tuesday

After completing my undergraduate studies in Psychology, I took a 10 year detour through the high-tech corporate world where I worked in Human Resources and Project Management for several local software companies. 2 years ago I returned to school to pursue my Masters in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy which I'm scheduled to complete in May of 2013. My previous experience includes working with children and adolescents as an volunteer advocate for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) advocating on behalf of children involved in the court system.

When I'm not studying, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, cooking, reading non school related books, skiing and camping.

Laura Fletcher, MFT Intern

I am currently pursuing my M.A. in Counseling Psychology (MFT track) at Santa Clara University and plan to graduate in June 2013.

On campus on Monday and Thursday

In the past I worked for non-profit organizations supporting youth and families in Latin America, Africa, and New York City. I also led outdoor trips for incoming college students and an extended trip abroad for high school girls, and I taught English classes for children and teens in Costa Rica. I have always enjoyed working with adolescents and am excited for the year ahead at Woodside.

I love to travel, sing, and spend time outdoors. Having lived in Central and South America, I also love speaking Spanish (and appreciate any opportunity to practice and improve!).

Heather Morgan, MA, MFTI

Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy- Art Therapy Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University.

A Bachelors of Fine Arts from Otis College of Art & Design.

On campus Thursday and Friday.

Kim Schroeder, MFT Intern

M.A. in Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University, June 2013.

I am here on campus Thursdays and Fridays.

My career path has been all over the place, trying to find a job I felt passionate about. My main stops were in the tech field, doing quality assurance for computer games to search engine results. I have dallied in the National Park Service in the education department, as well as trying my hand as a teacher’s assistant in an elementary school. But none of those felt right. So I dug inside me to find a long-buried desire to work with people and to help them process their lives and all its struggles. So here I am, in my third year of a Masters program in Counseling Psychology. I am delighted to be on Woodside’s campus and look forward to meeting any and all of you (just not at the same time).

• Community Resource Guide
  From basic needs to student support, this link has discriptions and contact information for many things to meet your needs.
• CAT Program 8 Page Brochure