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More From TAS

Counseling and Psychologists

Counseling and Psychologists

Single Testimonial

“  Whether you're navigating personal challenges, academic transitions, or seeking support for your mental and emotional health, our counselors are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment.”

Ryan Haynes

Dir. of US Personal & Acad. Counseling

Ryan Haynes, Upper School Personal and Academic Counselor at Taipei American School

Collaborative partnership between parents, school personnel, and the community, is at the heart of our counseling model at TAS. Our counselors across the Lower, Middle, and Upper School support our students and families in a safe, respectful, and motivating school environment. Through classroom lessons, small-groups, individual meetings, and family meetings, the counseling teams promote all students’ social, emotional, mental, academic, and multicultural competencies, ultimately preparing all students for a lifetime of well-being, learning, and global citizenship.

Our counselors believe that:

  • Student well-being is at the heart of our educational approach;
  • All students are deserving of a sense of belonging and connection;
  • All students are capable of change and growth;
  • Student success is individually defined and enhanced by one's own unique strengths;
  • It is essential to celebrate diversity in all its forms and to support our students’ development towards an awareness of their personal identities;
  • Communication between home and school should be collaborative and ongoing.

In addition to student support, our counselors offer numerous parent education activities and workshops throughout the year.

Parent Education

Each year, our KA-12 counselors and school psychologists hold a variety of parent education events. From book clubs on parenting techniques and workshops on helping your child thrive, to seminars on supporting a drug-free adolescence and helping teenagers build emotional agility and stress resilience, our counselors offer many ways to gain insight and advice on supporting your child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. 

 

Lower School Counselors

In Lower School, our counselors are the first point of contact for new students and families at our New Student Orientation Program, designed to give new students an opportunity to become familiar with each other and the school environment. Our counselors interview new families to help provide each child's new teacher with some helpful information about the student. Once the school year begins, the counselors follow up to help with new student adjustment.

Our Lower School counselors also facilitate the Grade 5 student ambassadors who help welcome new students during the Orientation Program.

Classroom Lessons, Small Groups, & 1:1 Meetings

Lower School counselors co-teach classroom lessons around themes like personal body safety, bullying, and interpersonal skills.

Informed by data like surveys, observations, and anecdotal notes, groups of students are identified to work directly with a counselor. Small groups meet with the counselor for multiple sessions and rotate throughout the school year, providing students an opportunity to build their social-emotional skills. Counselors meet one-on-one with students when necessary.

Middle School Counselors

The Middle School counseling program supports students academically, socially, and emotionally during this important and exciting stage of their lives. Middle School is a complex time of academic growth, exploration, and self-discovery, along with social and physical maturation. Counselors provide students with guidance and support throughout this three-year adolescent journey.

Counselors are available via email or drop-in visits to the counseling office, and interact daily with students by teaching health classes, monitoring the hallways and cafeteria, sponsoring clubs and sports, visiting during homeroom and study periods, and chairing the student wellness action teams.

Counselors in the Middle School stay with a grade level over multiple years, forming deep relationships with the students they advise and their parents.

Supporting the Transition to Middle School

Change can be tricky, and our counselors work closely with families as they transition in and out of the Middle School. Working with colleagues in Lower and Upper School, the Middle School counselors take great care to support smooth transitions from one division to the next.

New Student Support

Counselors direct students to the Student Ambassador Programs, offering new students a 'buddy' to help them settle in, and remain readily available for students or families who In addition, the counselors pay special attention to students in transition, including directing the student ambassador program that provides students who are new to TAS with a “buddy” to help them settle in. The counselors are readily available contacts for students and parents if questions or concerns arise anytime during the year.

Upper School Personal and Academic Counselors

In Upper School, counseling services focus on proactive and individualized planning, to help students make informed choices during their Upper School years. The Personal and Academic Counselors offer individual appointments, group meetings, and parent workshops to meet the full spectrum of needs faced by students and their families. Counselors operate in three domains: academic and emotional support, planning for life after TAS, and personal and emotional support.

Counselors in the Upper School stay with a grade level over multiple years, forming deep relationships with the students they advise and their parents.

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Academic and Educational Support
Academic and Educational Support

Counselors guide students through the course selection process, sharing educational tools to improve study habits, and assisting students in implementing time management tools. Counselors also regularly consult with teachers to support their work with students.

Support for Life After Upper School
Support for Life After Upper School

In addition to providing general guidance for life after high-school and helping students develop four-year plans to achieve their goals and dreams, our Personal and Academic Counselors work closely with our College Counselors to help students in Grade 11 and 12 receive optimal support during the college application process. Personal and Academic Counselors also offer programs to help students and families prepare for their transition out of TAS.

Upper School students performing an experiment together in the lab at Taipei American School
Personal and Emotional Support

Through a wide variety of services and programs, Personal and Academic Counselors support students throughout the year. From welcoming new students and hosting year-long activities through Reach Out, our student ambassador program, to pairing Upper School students with Lower School students as part of the Big Buddy program, counselors help students learn more about themselves, their learning styles, and personality traits. Counselors also provide individualized assistance to students and families with an emphasis on overall wellness and a well-balanced life.

Psychologists at TAS

As members of the Student Support Services team, our school psychologists help teachers, parents and guardians, counselors, and administrators identify effective ways to support students' learning, behavior, interpersonal relationships, and mental health. Our psychologists also provide an important link between TAS and mental health providers in the community.

In their work with students, faculty, parents, and guardians, our school psychologists promote wellness and resilience by encouraging positive communication, collaborative problem-solving, tolerance, and empathy. With specialized training and experience working at every stage of child and adolescent development, TAS psychologists are well-equipped to help our students thrive.

Services provided by our psychologists vary, from individual and small group counseling services for students experiencing social, emotional, or academic challenges, to educational opportunities that help families learn how to best support their children. TAS psychologists also conduct evaluations to help students, parents, and teachers develop a better understanding of a student's strengths and areas for growth. These evaluations are used as part of the development of learning support and accommodation plans.

Each division has one dedicated psychologist, and the services provided by psychologists are available to all students and families.

For mental health emergencies outside of school hours, please contact The Community Services Center's after-hours Crisis Line at 0932-594-578. Mandarin speakers may call 1925, a 24-hour crisis hotline.