Q&A: How Jesse, a School Counselor in California, uses Hazel to support the mental health of junior high students

Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Jesse Marshall, a School Counselor in the William S. Hart Union High School District in California. Jesse is a strong advocate for student mental well-being and a Hazel Referrer. 

As a Hazel Referrer, Jesse identifies students who could benefit from mental health support, explains the program to families, and ensures that students receive the care they need.

Jesse feels he was meant to support junior high students, which is made clear by how he speaks about the students he serves. He recognizes that junior high is a crucial period for students in their academic and social development and, for most students - a challenging time!

‍

Q: What is your background? Walk me through your journey to becoming a School Counselor. 

A: I always enjoy sharing this story. My journey began right after high school when I landed a job at a restaurant, and that’s where I spent most of my time before becoming a school counselor. My roles at the restaurant varied - from starting as a host to working my way up to serving, training, bartending, and eventually becoming a shift lead manager. I often dealt with people when they were hungry and at their worst, which gave me valuable experience in understanding and helping people. 

Transitioning into education, I briefly worked as a substitute teacher and began my internship for my Master’s program here at the Hart District. Afterward, I was fortunate to land a full-time job at the Hart district as a school counselor.

‍

Q: What is your day-to-day like as a School Counselor?

A: One thing I appreciate about being a school counselor is that our day-to-day activities have a lot of variety. Rarely does one day resemble the next, which keeps things interesting! However, it also requires us to be prepared for anything that comes our way.

This role involves engaging with parents and discussing community resources when they reach out via phone calls, emails, or office visits. Students might drop in during lunch, seeking advice about challenges at home or with a friend. A lot of collaboration is involved, including with teachers, parents, students, social workers, wellness coordinators, school psychologists, and the list goes on in a good way. It takes a village to help support students.

There are days that I feel like I’m spending more time responding to emails than anything else. And then there are times when it’s one student after another coming in with different things that might be happening.

‍

Q: Why did you choose a career in K-12 health? 

A: Growing up, I always wanted to help people. I know that sounds cliche, but it’s the truth. From my early years in elementary school through junior high, high school, and college, I always felt a strong desire to give back. I had the support of a great School Counselor during my high school years when I was facing some personal challenges. Their guidance and presence meant so much to me. I felt like I always had someone in my corner.

‍

At that time, I didn’t know I wanted to be a school counselor; I just knew I wanted to play a supportive role for others someday. Over the years, as I was working towards my degree and getting some work experience, I realized that school counseling seemed the direction I wanted to go, but I wasn’t sure what age I wanted to work with. Elementary school seemed fun; I’ve got three sons in that age range. High school was intriguing; I enjoy helping students prepare for college and careers. But, I found my heart leaning towards junior high.

Navigating the challenges of academic, social, and emotional transitions during junior high is especially tough for students. They go through so many significant changes, and being in a position to provide support felt both challenging and incredibly meaningful. Knowing that I am helping students on their journey and making a positive impact makes being a K-12 school counselor extremely fulfilling; I am very happy with it. 

Q: How did you feel when Hazel Health launched at your school? 

A: A significant challenge in our community is the limited resources available for parents and families with insurance. There are various resources for those without insurance, but the families that are insured struggle with affording copays and face lengthy wait lists, especially for adolescent mental health support.

Hazel felt like a game-changer. The speed at which Hazel connects students with support is remarkable. What sets Hazel apart is their commitment to working with any family regardless of insurance coverage, offering support to students at no cost to their families. It’s nothing short of a godsend, truly. 

When I first learned about Hazel, I was cautiously optimistic. I wanted to see how it would work out. The first few initial referrals I made, I heard nothing but great things from the parents and the students, too. From there on, we experienced a seamless implementation, with no issues or obstacles supporting our families. Even in cases where families were initially more challenging to reach or referrals didn’t go through, Hazel was flexible and allowed us to resubmit referrals when parents were ready.

So, while there was some initial hesitation, I am so pleased with how well the rollout of Hazel’s services worked out - it was just as good as advertised, if not better.

‍

Q: Can you talk about the referral process?

A: The referral process is great because we have different options. We can give the information to the families so they can complete the consent form independently when ready. I have done this with several families who aren’t sure yet but want to review the information. Sometimes, families don’t want the school to be overly involved, which I can respect. However, on the other hand, I have had families that want to come sit down in my office and complete the consent forms together.

The process, on my end, takes about 5 minutes. It’s a very short timeframe for us as school counselors to complete everything needed to get a student started with Hazel. Anyone in school health knows that the caseloads are pretty large, so anything that I can access quickly, I am going to utilize because I don’t always have the time to sit down and fill out hours' worth of paperwork.

I’ve been so impressed with the referral process. It’s quick, it’s streamlined, it’s effective. And I appreciate that Hazel keeps us, as referrers, in the loop regarding the process. The dashboard allows us to access information anytime and is very user-friendly.

‍

Q: How does your role as a Hazel Health Referrer fit into your day-to-day workflow?

A: Effectively caring for a student’s mental health requires knowledge of the available resources for families. We can only do so much as individuals. Connecting people to resources they can access is one of the best things we can do. 

As a Referrer, I have Hazel as an MTSS tier one or tier two type of intervention that I can efficiently utilize in any situation that might arise. I’ve done referrals for students who are struggling with their academics, and they need a little motivation to students who are just not feeling like their usual selves and might need somebody to talk to.

Peer issues, familial issues, school issues, Hazel covers all the bases, and I never have to wonder, “Is this an appropriate referral?” Hazel is something that I keep in my back pocket at all times. I am ready to offer it because it’s just that easy and accessible for the families and the students. 

‍

Q: Are there any specific moments as a Referrer that have stuck with you?

A: We have a wonderful student who is an introvert - shy and quiet and doesn’t open up easily. I have been working with her for about a year and a half, and despite the relationship and rapport that we have built, I’ve struggled to draw things out of her. Her parents and teachers have felt the same, and we’ve all supported her.

At the start of this school year, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to her parents, and I offered Hazel as an option. I wasn’t sure how well it would work, but I told them we should try.

The parents were a little cautious; they had done therapy before, and the therapist could not connect with their daughter. But we went ahead and made the referral, and within a week or two, she got started with her first session. I was so pleased to hear from the parents that during the student's first session, she was able to open up. The virtual setting made it easier for her to connect because in-person can sometimes be intimidating, but without a doubt, this had to do with the actual therapist. Hazel therapists are trained professionals, and they know what they are doing!

‍

Q: Can you tell me about your experience working with our providers? 

A: Mostly, what the therapist talks to the student about is between them. There are times when they should be concerned about bullying and suicidal ideation when they have to make a mandated report and communicate with us. Communication is helpful because when we know what’s going on, we can provide support, especially if it’s an issue at school. We don’t always hear about what’s happening when students have independent therapists.

‍

Q: How have families responded to Hazel?

A: Our response from families so far has been incredibly positive. It’s not just the ease of access but also the results of their students seeing a therapist. We know that mental health can take a long time to improve, but we hear that students are making steps in the right direction. 

‍

Q: Do you have any last thoughts before we conclude our conversation?

A: There’s always a bit of stigma when it comes to mental health. The best thing we can all do is help normalize it and help students understand that it’s okay to ask for help and get support. 

Mental health support isn’t just for students who are struggling with depression or anxiety. It’s something for any student who might be having a hard time, whether it’s school or whatever else.

The more we can normalize getting help, the more families will be open to the idea of using mental health support as more of a preventative measure. We don’t want to wait until a student is anxious about everything. We have the resources to get ahead and equip students with coping mechanisms to use when or if they need them. 

‍

Thank you, Jesse, for taking time out of your busy day to share your story with us and for your passion to serve junior high students! You are making a significant impact on their lives. 

Learn more about Hazel mental health services

‍