Spotlight On:
Northstar Counseling Center
As part of our ongoing series, we are interviewing people of interest in the community who are having a positive impact on the lives around them.
This time we are interviewing Northstar Counseling Center in Bishop!
Can you please tell me a little bit about North Star Counseling Center, its history, and the services you offer there?
North Star is a program supported by The Inyo Office of Education. North Star offers no cost counseling services to the students and families in the Inyo County school system. Heather Carr serves as the director and Meredith Schmitz & Vincent Miller oversee clinical services. North Star was founded with the intention of providing accessible mental health services to students and families in Inyo County schools. It has gone through different iterations over the years and has been in a growth phase during the last few years and is flourishing thanks to renewed funding sources from the state, as well as, commitment from the Inyo County Office of Education Superintendent and Board of Supervisors.
What age range of children do you typically work with?
North Star typically works with students and families between 5 years – 18 years of age.
What are the most common issues or concerns that children seek counseling for at your center?
We support students and families who may be experiencing challenges related to emotional regulation, exposure to trauma, significant life changes and adjustment challenges, grief, and relational dynamics in the school and/or home environments. Students we support may also be experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, or various other mental health challenges. North Star has the flexibility to meet students and families in schools, outside in the community and in our new office space 136 Edwards St. Bishop CA 93514
How do you approach counseling sessions with children to make them feel comfortable and engaged? Who can receive NSCC Services?
With our services being voluntary,we begin with an invitation. At North Star we approach our services from a strength-based and person-centered perspective, aiming to meet each student and family where they are and really join alongside them in navigating whatever challenges and symptoms they are currently experiencing or presenting. Engaging with youth our team believes it is important to have an engaging, flexible and comfortable approach that supports youths’ sense of safety and allows for them to lead. Our aim is to develop and strengthen a student’s personal agency and internal awareness to grow their capacity to self-regulate. We incorporate a variety of therapeutic approaches to effectively support students who are often still developing skills to navigate lifes challenges.
NSSC Services are available for any child or young person enrolled in the Inyo County school system. Our services aim to support students with mild to moderate symptoms and mental wellness challenges. We also offer consultation support to school staff related to emotional and behavioral health and work collaboratively as a team to empower all those involved in a youth’s life. Our team at Northstar recognizes that we may not be the best fit and that therapy is a choice. If we are not the appropriate fit, our team will assist students and families in getting connected with the correct level of support.
Finally, how can families in the community access your services, and are there any specific steps they need to take to begin counseling for their child?
Referrals are made through the schools. Please reach out to school counselors, administrators, or any trusted adult at the school to request a referral for North Star services. Someone from our team would than follow up and contact the family.
A special thank you to Meredith Schmitz of Northstar for facilitating this interview.
Their address is 800 W Elm St #6, Bishop, CA 93514 and their phone number is (760) 873-4206.
